After months or declining sales and despite a good deal of negative publicity, McDonald's announced that they hit a six year high in sales both in the US and abroad, with the best performances from stores in the UK. The company cites in increase in healthier menu items, including salads and less fattening kids' choices. At UK restaurants, the new options include deli sandwiches, free-range eggs, more fruit and beef that is only "from the forequarter or flank of a cow."
While some applaud the changes and point to these new options as the reason for the sales growth, critics point out that the healthier options account for only 10% of total sales and that the company "sells eight double cheeseburgers...for every salad." The critics seem to be failing to take into account that that 10% is a huge change in the past 5 or 6 years, when the company didn't offer that many options, and that it is still primarily a fast-food burger restaurant. A sales boost should reinforce the company's desire to retain healthier menu items - and that should be a victory for the critics in and of itself.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-17-2006 @ 3:46PM
james b said...
I say the sales increase is from the Hummers in the Happy Meals.
(joke)
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10-17-2006 @ 4:14PM
Caramel Dip said...
Its got to be the 'snack wrap;' I can eat 5 or 6 at a time.
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10-17-2006 @ 9:13PM
Claire Dupont said...
My favorite fast food restaurant is Wienerschnitzel, they have the best food and it is cooked to order not made up ahead of time and all old...so you may wait an extra minute or two, but the food is hot and made just they way you want it. Their chili cheese dogs are soooo good. I stop there every chance I get, they blow Wendy's and Mc D's away. You have to taste their ice cream...OMG..it is wonderful.
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10-17-2006 @ 10:15PM
Christina said...
No matter how healthy the food that McDonalds sells, the service still bites the big one
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10-17-2006 @ 10:33PM
Diane said...
I say the sales increase is because of the oh-so excellent service they provide. I mean who wouldn't jump to spend 85 minutes waiting in line at the drive thru for an item that the employee will fling out the window at you will clog your arteries?? Oh lets not forget that now if you ask for a BBQ sauce for your fries they actually charge you for it. Gee, its no wonder sales are up. (Ummm yes this is sarcasm folks)
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10-18-2006 @ 12:17AM
Merlyn said...
I agree from next to 0 to 10% is great progress ! Try stopping at Burger King pushing quadruple stack bacon cheeseburgers. And you can King or Super size that for only a bit more and get 2 days of food to eat all at one sitting.....
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10-18-2006 @ 10:15AM
kel said...
What the critics also fail to realize is that McDonald's is not going to move its core customers to eating more healthfully just by offering healthier options. My guess is that McDonald's is growing sales through the healthy offerings by attracting customers who wouldn't normally eat there, me being one of them. In the past, if I were in a pinch and needed to eat on the road, I'd NEVER go to McDonalds. Now I consider it because I like one of their salads and love the fruit and yogurt parfait.
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10-23-2006 @ 5:14PM
First Pictures Of McDonalds Transformation said...
After 50 years and billions and billions of customers, the McDonald’s Franchise is getting a serious face-lift. The jump into the technology age will include plasma screen televisions, soft couches, coffee tables, and wireless internet access. ABC news reports that all 13,000 McDonald’s Restaurants in the United States will be getting the “McMakeover” by the end of the year. The company will be replacing the historic red brick roof-tops with more modern and sleek roofs. McDonalds make-over comes as the company is working to turn their traditionally kid oriented restaurant into a place for trendy grownups. The company plans to include new mood lighting, fireplaces, and artwork to their stores as well.
McDonald’s hopes they can attract young professionals like Starbucks has in recent years. The redesign is part of a three year old campaign to trim the old image. Personally, I am put off by the idea of transforming the traditional McDonald’s image. Although many would welcome the change with open arms, I could never imagine myself eating on a plush couch inside a “Micky-Dees.” The transformations are also going to hurt franchises who will have to pay anywhere from $300,000 to millions of dollars per restaurant.
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