Filed under: Franchises

Visit our Filed page for categories. To browse by specific topic, see our Inside page. For a list of companies covered on this site, visit our Companies page.

 

Heir to McDonald’s fortune robbed, beaten in home

From the New York Daily News | Geoffrey McDonald, an heir of the founders of the McDonald’s, and his wife were attacked in their home in the south of France by thieves who stole more than $376,000 in money and jewelry.

McDonald’s strikes deal to expand in China

U.S. fast-food giant McDonald’s Corp. formed a five-year strategic alliance Friday with China subway operator Shenzhen Metro Group Co. under which McDonald’s will have first pick of the prime retail spots in the subway operator’s underground commercial spaces and above ground property projects. Get the full story »

Illinois probes salmonella outbreak at Subway

The Illinois Department of Health is investigating a salmonella outbreak that has sickened almost 100 people who have reported eating at Subway sandwich restaurants in 28 counties around the state. Get the full story »

House leaders ask McDonald’s for ‘Shrek’ docs

Dow Jones Newswires | U.S. House leaders have asked McDonald’s
Corp. to submit information related to the fast-food chain’s recall of
Shrek glasses as part of an investigation into cadmium-tainted
children’s products.

Get the full story »

McDonald’s sales rise 4.8% in May

Reuters | McDonald’s Corp reported a stronger-than-expected 4.8
percent rise in worldwide May sales at established restaurants and said
it expects foreign currency translation to hurt full-year profit. Sales
at McDonald’s restaurants open at least 13 months were up 3.4 percent
in the United States, 5.7 percent in Europe and 3.8 percent in the
Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa region.

Get the full story »

McDonald’s to hold prices; coffee sales up 38%

Dow Jones Newswires | McDonald’s Corp.’s coffee sales are up 38
percent through April of this year, Chief Executive Jim Skinner said
Wednesday, on top of 25 percent growth in 2009, evidence that the
deeper foray into java is paying off.

Executives speaking at an investor conference said McDonald’s will
continue to advertise behind its premium
coffee line, McCafe, throughout the year to continue momentum on that
product line. But the company is also continuing to focus on value
across its menu, especially as the unemployment rate remains high.

Get the full story »

Group still pushing for Ronald McDonald to retire

clown2.jpg
The Corporate Accountability International brought clowns and retired spokesman Joe Camel to draw attention to its call for McDonald’s to retire Ronald McDonald. ( Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune)

By Wailin Wong | A
corporate watchdog group renewed its call for McDonald’s to retire
Ronald McDonald, hoping to build on momentum from a recent White House
report recommending that food companies stop marketing junk food to
children.

Boston-based Corporate Accountability International, whose previous
campaigns include the retirement of Joe Camel, held a protest in
downtown Chicago on Wednesday that kicked off at Millennium Park and
ended at the retro McDonald’s restaurant at 600 N. Clark.

Get the full story »

McDonald’s to franchise in China

From Reuters | After testing the market with company-owned stores, McDonald’s Corp.
said it is looking for franchise partners in China to help it expand in its fastest growing market.

Get the full story: reuters.com

Volcano crimps McDonald’s global convention

From Ad Age | About 80 percent of the European participants who planned to attend McDonald’s global convention in Orlando this week have been unable to make it because of lingering ash clouds that have shutdown air travel.

“This has blown a hole in [McDonald's] marketing plans and global initiatives,” said Patrick Larsimont, London-based regional business director for DDB Europe, one of those left behind. “All three roster agencies were all due to [debut] work at the convention.”

Get the full story: adage.com

McDonald’s plans ‘coffee-house’ makeovers

From Crain’s Chicago Business | McDonald’s Corp. is planning a major remodeling effort in the next five years to to give its restaurants a coffee-house look and feel. It plans to drop its signature mansard roof for exteriors featuring stone walls and eyebrow-shaped arches. Inside, look for more wood and less plastic as well as lounge chairs, fireplaces and flat screen televisions — if the chain can convince franchisees to spend the estimated $1 million per store.

Get the full story: chicagobusiness.com

Actor to play Field, Wrigley, Walgreen, Kroc

From the Daily Herald | The Roselle Historical Museum on Saturday will host actor Terry Lynch, who will dress in turn-of-the-century period clothing and bring to life the stories of Chicago moguls Marshall Field, William Wrigley, Charles Walgreen, Ray Kroc and Frederick Maytag as part of the museum’s annual fund raising event.

Get the full story: dailyherald.com

Cosi narrows 4Q loss

Tribune staff report | Deerfield-based restaurant company Cosi
Inc. said it lost $4.45 million in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 28,
2009, nearly halving its net loss from the same period a year ago.

Revenue
for the period dropped 8.1 percent to $28.24 million from $30,735,000
in the 2008 fourth quarter as company-owned net restaurant sales
declined and income from franchise fees and royalties declined because
the company lowered them between 2008 and 2009.

Get the full story »

Chrysler offers to reinstate some dealers

McClatchy/Tribune News | Chrysler is offering to reinstate some
of its 789 terminated dealers, reversing its hard-line policy in the
face of a slow and costly arbitration process that could distracted the
company from its turnaround plan.

One source familiar with the lobbying efforts of the rejected dealers
said he had heard that 86 to 96 could be reinstated.

Get the full story »