Posted on 09/25/2026 7:53:23 AM PDT by Red Badger
McDonald’s is spending billions of dollars to boost its franchises, an effort to cement its title as the leader in fast food amid growing competition.
The chain announced Wednesday that it will invest $8.5 billion by 2036 on a series of initiatives, including remodeling restaurants, retraining its 2 million employees and adding new menu items to target high-protein eaters.
About $5 billion will be spent in the next three and a half years alone, a combination of capital support as well as rent relief for franchises.
It’s all part of a multiyear strategy to win back diners and capture more market share. Last month, McDonald’s reported its slowest quarterly growth since 2025. The chain had blamed the decline on launching too many promotions, plus inadequate customer service and its massive World Cup promotion failing to attract eaters.
The new strategy, called “Next,” aims to make the chain “the first choice for more customers, more often — while making our restaurants stronger and easier to run,” CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a press release.
McDonald’s troubles are part of broader economic issues affecting all dining chains, with rising food prices causing customers to dine out less. The chain’s stock has fallen about 20% for the year.
What’s new? In addition to rent relief and capital support, some of that multibillion-dollar spend will be used for remodeling restaurants. McDonald’s mandates its franchises remodel every decade.
Images revealed on Wednesday show expansive dining rooms, bigger play areas and improved lighting. There are also redesigned kitchens that will use new AI tools to improve speed and efficiency, which the company said it expects to earn each restaurant an additional $100,000 in cash flow via savings.
McDonald’s also focused on changing its menu as it combats new competition that includes a revitalized Burger King, ...
(Excerpt) Read more at lite.cnn.com ...
Interesting thing about prices of those bygone years is they were paid in silver coinage.
Look up the current value of a silver dime or quarter to put those prices in a proper perspective.
IMPROVEMENTS:
NO POP MUSIC on the speaker system!
ANY MUSIC to be BACKGROUND level MAX; not louder than quiet conversation. Nothing was wrong with Henry Mancini...
NO 6000K “STARK BLUE INDUSTRIAL” LIGHTING!
My GOD whatever happened to the comfortable 2700K glow of “warm white”?
Taco Bell destroyed it’s dining spaces with these 6000K lights — between that and the shouting-volume pop music I hate dining in with my kids.
I like the kiosks. I get my order RIGHT. Employees start at $15-16 per hour here in southern Arizona. Employees are likely to disappear entirely in the next few years. I won’t miss them.
NO I DO NOT WANT TO USE YOUR APP.
McDonalds sucks.
Cooked in a little hut surrounded by sand. Yet in America they can't figure it out.
When you were a little kid every trip to McDonalds was a victory. As an adult every trip there is a defeat.
I like them too.
However, when they introduce the Big Kahuna Burger, call me.
When you were a little kid every trip to McDonalds was a victory. As an adult every trip there is a defeat.
Usually they're much more accurate.
You're not looking for customer service at a fast food restaurant.
I’ve had McDonald’s in the US, Canada, Japan, Philippines, France, Italy, and probably some that I’ve forgotten.
All universally bad. I remember when I first had a big mac in ‘78, I was hooked. At there A LOT in the 80’s, my dad managed one in the 90’s.
It’s NOTHING like it used to be.
Ya reckon for that much money they could finally get the shake machine to work?
Asking for a friend.. d;^)
The last time I bought a Big Mac ( very recently BTW) I opened the box and found myself staring at a burger patty. Yes, they slapped the thing together inside out. How does that even happen? The guy must have been stoned or not paying any attention. I hope they didn’t drop it on the floor first.
I remember when McDonald’s hamburgers were 15 cents each. 19 cents with cheese.
I went to a McD on a business trip recently after years.
The prices are nearly that of a decent restaurant.
It is also not fast, not at all.
So no longer cheap, no longer fast. Why would anyone choose it? I guess only if there is no alternative
Real food might not be a bad idea. Replace the McCardboard burgers.
“McDonald’s troubles are part of broader economic issues affecting all dining chains, with rising food prices causing customers to dine out less. The chain’s stock has fallen about 20% for the year.”
McDonalds is screwed, same as all the others. So they will be blowing billions on dubious improvements. A better plan will be to manage the decline, which Starbucks is doing. People just don’t have the frivolous money to blow at McDonalds.
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