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McDonald's is closing hundreds of restaurants this year
Fortune Magazine via MSN ^ | 04-22-15 | Phil Wahba

Posted on 04/22/2015 7:33:17 PM PDT by Hugin

For instance, earlier in April the company announced it is testing out a larger, pricier, third-of-a-pound burger for $5, two years after dropping the similar Angus burger line because they were too pricey for McDonald’s diners. Despite that earlier failure, new CEO Steve Easterbrook expressed confidence his customers would go for premium burgers.

“I often describe McDonald’s as possibly the most democratic -- with a small ‘d’ -- brand in the world,” he said. “And what customers love the world over, and none more so than here in the U.S., is how they can buy into aspirational quality products, but at a McDonald’s price.”

But he faces an uphill battle in winning over the millions of burger-eaters in the U.S. that have a dim view of McDonald’s offerings: Nation’s Restaurant News published a survey this month rating 111 limited-service chains on 10 attributes including food quality, and McDonald’s was ranked No. 110, ahead only of Chuck E. Cheese. In-N-Out Burger topped the list.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: closing; hundreds; mcdonalds; restaurants
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

Has anyone noticed that, not just flour buns, but bread in general in the last 10 years doesn’t taste like it once did and has a funky smell and taste to it ?
Bread nowadays has a moldy taste even if it’s fresh...

Can’t beat home baked bread...


61 posted on 04/22/2015 8:22:38 PM PDT by American Constitutionalist (BeThe Keystone Pipe like ProjectR : build it already Congre)
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To: crz
That place looks like fun!

I bet you can get an awesome burger there.

You know something you don't see much of anymore... a hamburger stand. You know what I mean, one of those places where you just walked up to a window and ordered. Then you ate it on an old wooden picnic table or took it home in a white sack.

Some of those old places were great. The building would just be the size of a garden shed, and it was amazing the variety of food they could serve.

62 posted on 04/22/2015 8:22:49 PM PDT by TontoKowalski
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To: Hugin
I always thought the Big Mac is horrible. Way overpriced breadburger.

Yeah, what's with the middle bun? A McDouble with Secret Sauce is better.

Try a Big Carl

Those guys once sold a California Roast Beef Sandwich. Fast food heaven.

63 posted on 04/22/2015 8:25:02 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Doctrine doesn't change. The trick is to find a way around it.)
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To: Hugin

I wouldn’t call eating at MacDonalds “dining”.


64 posted on 04/22/2015 8:26:03 PM PDT by Seruzawa (All those memories will be lost,in time, like tears in rain.)
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To: Seruzawa
I wouldn’t call eating at MacDonalds “dining”.

I wouldn't call it "eating".

65 posted on 04/22/2015 8:26:33 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Rome2000

“99.1 percent of Americans have no idea what aspirational quality means”

I had to look it up. It seems to have a best match with its second dictionary definition, so the CEO is saying folks want upscale, social-climbing products at a cheap price.

If he believes that, McD’s will continue its downhill slide. People go to McD to get decent quality, cheap & fast. I avoid them because they no longer serve decent quality, cheap and fast. They are trying to become upscale - or should I say, to possess an aspirational quality. So instead of a thick, cold shake, one gets foo-foo shakes at an upscale price, usually after an excessive wait.

I’ll stop at one for their breakfast if I’m on the road. A Sausage McMuffin is usually a reasonable value at $2, but the cheese is usually cold. Their fries suck and have done so for many years now.

Fast, cheap and OK quality, with a smaller selection of easy to heat & make sandwiches and GOOD FRIES might turn them around. I’m not holding my breath, though...the CEO wants them to possess an “aspirational quality”...


66 posted on 04/22/2015 8:27:13 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (Can you remember what America was like in 2004?)
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To: Hugin
Time to nuke this thread.

.


67 posted on 04/22/2015 8:28:26 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Doctrine doesn't change. The trick is to find a way around it.)
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To: American Constitutionalist

Depends on the bread. The only commercial bread I have purchased in the last few decades is the 7 grain type of bread, or pumpernickel.

Usually I buy something from the store bakery, like Vienna bread or baguettes. I like to take an Italian or French loaf, put some butter on the top and broil it for a few minutes. Great with red wine and a red-sauce pasta with sausage.


68 posted on 04/22/2015 8:28:51 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves Month")
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To: Hugin

not smart- with the drop in gasoline prices, more families will be venturing out for fast food in the summer months to spend the money they are ‘saving’ on gasoline, and kids always want McDonalds food- Bad timing on the part of McDee’s the time to close is when gasoline prices skyrocket again because once they do it is very unlikely they will ever drop to where they are now again


69 posted on 04/22/2015 8:29:06 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: TontoKowalski

> I don’t want to add on to the “black demographic” thing, because I think it’s more of a “thug demographic.” It seems like ours has cop cars with sirens going in the parking lot much of the time.

That’s a good point. Thug demographic would be the more appropriate term. I feel comfortable in predominantly black areas of town if the people are cleancut and appear non-hostile in nature. There is a difference.


70 posted on 04/22/2015 8:29:51 PM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: firebrand
Funny you mention that "sawdust" thing.

McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell And More Have Wood Pulp In Food

http://www.ibtimes.com/mcdonalds-burger-king-taco-bell-more-have-wood-pulp-food-1616514


71 posted on 04/22/2015 8:31:29 PM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: Hugin

The government’s EBT card in the US created a demographic that had to be accommodated with the Dollar Menu’s and Happy Meals. Once the EBT Crowd brought community standards into the establishments other segments of the population felt alienated. McDonald’s catered to and employed folks who are poorly educated, and judging from constantly wrong orders people taking drugs, and the crime that followed this crowd to eat just made McDonald’s unsafe and undependable.


72 posted on 04/22/2015 8:31:52 PM PDT by Jumper
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To: dfwgator

“More and More McDonald’s is being associated with the Ghetto crowd.”

Well, you generally only read about McD’s when there’s a fight or similar disruption that seems more prevalent in ghetto stores. Conversely, the yuppies are so into ‘fitness’ that McDs is anathema to them.

The same thing happened, tho, years ago to the “Playboy Clubs,” when they became popular with upwardly mobil blacks. Whites just stopped going, and before too long, they closed.


73 posted on 04/22/2015 8:33:25 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: Hugin; All
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74 posted on 04/22/2015 8:34:17 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: Impala64ssa

The nearest Krystal was about a 30 mile round trip, so I didn’t go very often. Looks like all the locations in Texas are now closed.


75 posted on 04/22/2015 8:36:00 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Hugin

Oh noes, where will the ghetto blacks go to engage in fights? In some areas, the local Mickey D’s should have an arena, equipped with ropes.


76 posted on 04/22/2015 8:36:05 PM PDT by EinNYC
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To: EinNYC
Oh noes, where will the ghetto blacks go to engage in fights?

Chuck E. Cheese, of course.

77 posted on 04/22/2015 8:38:39 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Jeff Chandler

I with Carl’s Jr. would bring back their Pastrami Burger.


78 posted on 04/22/2015 8:40:02 PM PDT by Hugin ("Do yourself a favor--first thing, get a firearm!")
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

Yes indeed, store baked tastes better..

Italian bread with butter, yummy..


79 posted on 04/22/2015 8:40:24 PM PDT by American Constitutionalist (BeThe Keystone Pipe like ProjectR : build it already Congre)
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To: Hugin
I with Carl’s Jr. would bring back their Pastrami Burger.

I like their Extra Big Ass Taco, now with more *MOLECULES*

80 posted on 04/22/2015 8:42:07 PM PDT by dfwgator
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