McChronicles

McDonald's Happy Meals To Be Upgraded

2011-12-07T09:41:00.004-05:00

According to a McDonald's press release:

"McDonald’s will automatically include produce or a low-fat dairy option in every Happy Meal®. By the end of Q1 2012".

This is part of a progressive plan to upgrade the quality of the options presented at McDonald's. The press release also states:

"The impact will be an estimated 20 percent reduction in calories of the most popular Happy Meals, also reducing fat in those meals."

McDonald's Secret Menu: revealed on NPR

2010-05-11T15:10:00.006-04:00

The McChronicles just read an interesting article on npr.org regarding a secret McDonald's menu, known only to insiders. This article focused on only one of many alleged secret menu items.

With a little digging, The McChronicles uncovered a list of secret items from several fast food proprietors.
This image, from this site, depicts (from left to right): Monster Mac(8 beef patties!), Grilled Cheese, McGangBang(a double cheeseburger with a chicken patty in between the two beef patties).

Other interesting secret menu item names include (follow the link, above, to see more):

McLeprichon (sic)
McKinley Mac
Pie McFlurry

The questions are:

To McDonald's crew: are these "real" secret menu items, or are they just things customers have made up - calling them secret menu items?

To customers: are you familiar with any of these items (listed at the 2nd link above)? And do you know of any others?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

McDonald's Shamrock Shakes: An Annual Treat

2010-03-25T09:55:00.002-04:00

OK Shamrock Shake fans, share your favorite Shamrock Shake memories or thoughts.

Comments away!!!!

Image: RareAndBeautifulTreasures.com

The Mc10:35

2010-03-23T17:03:00.004-04:00

According to info posted on The Consumerist website, there is, "a McDonald's secret menu item that can only be ordered during the changeover from breakfast to the standard menu. The Mc10:35 is the unholy but oh-so-hot union between the McDouble and Egg McMuffin."

Named "Mc10:35" because that is the only time it can be crafted, the sandwich is NOT a McDonald's offering, but a fastfood mashup of two existing products. It reportedly is sweeping the San Francisco area.

Sounds tasty! Let us know (comment) if you've tried this.

Image: The Consumerist website.

It's Lent: Time for McDonald's Filet-O-Fish

2010-02-28T13:01:00.001-05:00

McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich was made for the Lenten season. And, as we are in the middle of Lent, McDonald's is running a "two for $3" special in the USA.

The McChronicles recently grabbed two F-O-F sandwiches and truly enjoyed them, though they tasted a bit salty.

We'd like to hear from you on this annual event, and on this perennial favorite sandwich. Please comment.

Mac Snack Wrap Delights

2010-02-28T12:37:00.007-05:00

The McChronicles was delighted when the McDonald's Corporation offered some free coupons for the Mac Snack Wrap. Of course, we used this opportunity to learn what people had to say about this new product.

Step 1: The McChronicles invited over a dozen people to experience the Mac Snack Wrap at the New Hartford, NY McDonald's. We had students, office staff, engineers, internet specialists, and more on hand. Ages ranged from early twenties to mid-fifties.
Step 2: Everyone arrived, ordered their sandwiches, and began eating.
Step 3: the feedback.

Okay, back to step 2. As we know, this sandwich is intended to be a snack. The assumption is that, if a person wanted a meal, they'd order a full Big Mac; if a person wanted a snack, they'd order the Mac Snack Wrap. The McChronicles wanted to be sure that everyone had a complete experience (and it was lunch time) so all volunteers enjoyed two Mac Snack Wraps.

The results: Unanimous pleasure with the sandwich!

The McChronicles was expecting some push back, for several small reasons. But we received none. The McChronicles feels that the bread gets a little excessive at the end of the sandwich, but no one commented on that at all.

Everyone enjoyed the special sauce - and the balance of ingredients.

Perhaps because it was lunch time (and no one was "snacking"), everyone wanted something else, in addition to one wrap. This sandwich truly is a snack or a very light meal.

The main praise went to the portability of the sandwich. Once the discussion began, everyone mentioned that eating a Big Mac in a car is a no-no. The sandwich is simply too unwieldy - and a mess is nearly guaranteed. Everyone felt that this sandwich could easily be eaten while on the move - with little risk of a disaster.

The verdict: McDonald's Mac Snack Wrap is a hit! Be sure to try one and to share your opinion with The McChronicles.

McDonald's Bottle Deposit

2009-12-18T09:25:00.005-05:00

The McChronicles was perusing a McDonald's receipt while enjoying the new Mac Snack Wrap this week. In the process, we noticed we had paid a 5-cent deposit on our water bottle.

OK - that had slipped by us. We wondered WHEN it was instituted, how we had missed it, etc.

Then, when we were leaving, we wondered what to do with the bottle.

Habit had us simply dropping it into the trash. But, we knew that was the wrong maneuver (sidenote: our community has a very strong recycling program that sorts the stream in a recycling center). We didn't want to be throwing away money.

So, where to put the bottle? A quick scan revealed that there was no redemption center in the McDonald's. So, the only option was to bring the bottle home and put it in our redemption bin (to be brought to a redemption center at a later date).

We wondered how many people actually know they have paid a deposit, and how many people will overcome their habit of tossing the bottle into the trash, and how many people will eventually get the bottle where it belongs.

We mused that it would be very convenient if the McDonald's had an automated redemption machine (like the machines found at WalMart and other places) where we could deposit the bottle and collect a receipt for our 5 cents.

Of course, that creates headaches for the store - they don't exactly have tons of extra space available, nor were they designed for this.

Ultimately, we wonder if bottled water should even be offered. The McChronicles gets it when it comes to bottled water (we "get it" that it's not a clear and simple issue). Bottled water is convenient, trustworthy, portable, and safe (minimized spillage). We also know that tap water is a perfectly good alternative, assuming it is handled cleanly. But we wonder if a cup is any better than a bottle when it comes to recyclability, trash, sustainability, etc. There are pluses and minuses for both positions. We "get it" that there is no simple answer.

At a recent McDonald's "McGreen" event, "Water coolers were available as an alternative to bottled water, reducing bottled water consumption by 25 percent," according to a report by Nancy Mann Jackson. Maybe a water cooler-type of service is the answer?

It is extremely clear that McDonald's is one of the world's leading companies with regard to corporate responsibility and sustainability. As a customer, The McChronicles hopes that McDonald's can show us the way to a better place on this important and confusing issue.

McDonald's Leaves Iceland

2009-10-31T14:05:00.002-04:00

"REYKJAVIK (Reuters) - Thousands of Icelanders lined up at McDonald's restaurants to order their last Big Macs before the U.S. fast-food chain abandons the crisis-hit island at midnight Saturday due to soaring costs."

This report is from Reuters and appeared on their website. The site also has a video and a deeper story - in case you want to know more.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

McDonald's Monopoly Game

2009-10-12T16:56:00.005-04:00

It's that time of year again.

Tell us your wildest McDonald's Monopoly game story.

The McChronicles: A blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

La Mesa, California McCafe Has A Minor Issue

2009-10-12T16:48:00.004-04:00

McDonald's store #5252 in La Mesa, California had the McCafe retrofit, like most others in the USA. The McChronicles dropped in last week and noticed something slightly amiss - due to the McCafe.

We observed that, after our order was placed, the crew had to take an unusually long walk to get our food. We asked about it and were told that the counter was moved several feet forward during the retrofit, pushing the registers far from the food stations. The crew now has to really hustle to get back and forth.

Otherwise, the store is clean and the crew are quite warm and friendly. The store is in a great location (near a main road, within a shopping mall), easy to see and to get to/from, and offering ample parking.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Follow McDonald's on Twitter

2009-09-30T11:34:00.004-04:00

http://twitter.com/McDonalds

Be one of the first to follow.

None Of Us Is As Good As All Of Us

2009-09-29T12:26:00.004-04:00

Quoting from a communique The McChronicles received from McDonald's:

There are many rich stories about diversity and inclusion of all cultures in the book None Of Us Is As Good As All Of Us - stories of overcoming challenges, breaking the glass ceiling, shattering cultural perceptions, achieving great success despite hardships. These stories have never been told publically - about McDonald's business or the author herself. The author, Patricia Harris, is an African-American "farm girl" who has risen in the McDonald's organization from a secretary 30 years ago to become the company's Global Chief Diversity Officer today.

We're very proud that McDonald's is donating all profits from this book directly to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), so millions of children around the world and their families will benefit from the sale of this book through RMHC.

None Of Us Is As Good As All Of Us is being sold by all major national booksellers and online. All of its stories are compelling, and showcase McDonald's ongoing commitment to our people, supported by our long-term business plan, The Plan to Win.

If you are interested, the book can be purchased here.

McDonald's Goes Social with Station M

2009-09-15T18:35:00.004-04:00

Who has experience with McDonald's new social destination, Station M?

If you do, file a comment here, please.

The Mini Mac Experiment: Searching for the Big Mac's little sister

2009-08-21T15:06:00.005-04:00

McDonald's Big Mac is a signature sandwich. Wildly successful, and beloved by many, it is truly a classic. That said, The McChronicles has met numerous people who love the Big Mac but wish for something a little ... less.

So, with the goal of maintaining the Big Mac taste and quality experience, and with reducing the calories, volume, and messiness (face it, the sandwich is not the neatest - something The McChronicles has posted about previously), The McChronicles set out to construct The Mini Mac.

We typed up our ingredients and went to our "home" McDonald's, in New Hartford, NY for a custom creation. The crew handled the request quickly and accurately - barely blinking an eye. We asked for (in Big Mac style):

2 hamburger patties

hamburger bun (using an extra bottom as the middle bread)

1 cheeseburger cheese slice

Big Mac sauce

lettuce

pickles

onion

salt

pepper

The McChronicles requested to pay for the sandwiches as if they were regular Big Macs.

We eagerly opened the boxes, first exposing a Mini Mac, pictured on the left (we ordered two). We were a little surprised at how big it looked - we were expecting, and hoping for, something smaller. Next, we popped open the regular Big Mac, pictured on the right (we ordered one). We were again surprised, this time at how much larger the Big Mac was. OK, so the Mini Mac was smaller ... but, we were disappointed that it wasn't as small as we were hoping for.

Next, we ate the sandwiches. The Mini Mac was no neater than the Big Mac.

Bottom line:

No matter how large or small, the Big Mac tastes EXCELLENT!

However, we did not succeed in creating a version that satisfied our desire for notably smaller, less volume, fewer calories, and neater.

Do you have any ideas?

ANGUS THIRD POUNDER: Custom Creation ... FRANGUS

2009-08-17T17:09:00.011-04:00

It had to happen - and it has. Someone bought TWO Angus Third Pounders and assembled a custom creation. Something The McChronicles calls the Frangus (Frankenstein + Angus).

Inspired by last week's Angus Third Pounder Test Experience, a friend of The McChronicles came back at it this week, went to McDonald's, ordered up TWO sandwiches, then built his creation.

Frangus creator, Jim, said it was his version of the perfect Angus burger. After assembling it, he ate it all, and was able to return to the office, and reported that he put in a productive afternoon.

McDonald's ANGUS THIRD POUNDER Burger Experience

2009-08-17T09:02:00.026-04:00

The McChronicles was delighted with the prototype McDonald's Angus Third Pounder during our visit to the corporation's ultra-top secret "Innovation Center" in October of 2008. After two years of development, the product has been released (July 2nd) in the USA.

McDonald's advertising agency, GolinHarris, provided The McChronicles with several "Be Our Guest Cards" - each good for one free Angus Third Pounder. So, we invited a bevy of fast foodies to experience, "McDonald's first new burger launch since the Big 'N Tasty (debuted in 2001)", according to GolinHarris.

THE TEST

16 people assembled at the New Hartford, NY McDonald's. This is The McChronicles' "home store", so we felt very comfortable evaluating this new sandwich here. Then, the burgers were ordered. With three choices (Deluxe, Bacon & Cheese, and Mushroom & Swiss) there was a lot of discussion and decision making. The Deluxe seemed to be the top selection, with Bacon & Cheese a close second - but many people said they hoped to try the other versions. In other words, all versions sounded appealing to our team.

Peoples' first reaction was to the packaging. There were several comments regarding the professionalism of the packaging. This included observations on the neatness - and how well organized the ingredients were. It seemed that everyone had a story to share regarding burger elements being "tossed together" haphazardly, making for a poor presentation. The Angus Third Pounder simply looked perfect - in all 16 cases.

The McChronicles was most impressed with the inner liner - a sleeve of paper that helps hold the burger together and collects the juices or drippings. This is a topic The McChronicles has discussed in the past. Neatness and burger management are critical, especially when dining in the car (which we weren't).

LET THE EATING BEGIN

One by one, people started digging in. Interestingly, the festive atmosphere turned distinctly quiet. Something was happening. Then, one by one, people began commenting. And here is what we heard (direct quotes):

A mouthful of flavor.

Makes me want another.

Presentation is phenomenal.

By far, my favorite burger of ALL our local restaurants, including the sit-downs.

The Deluxe is the tastiest burger that I have had. Vegetables are top quality and fresh. Crunchy lettuce, juicy tomato, and crisp onions.

The burger actually left juice in the container! I've never had such a juicy burger at McDonald’s.

I immediately noticed the size of the box. It is huge! From step 1, I knew this was going to be "bigger than lunch".

Wow this is a big box!

This is not like a McDonald's burger. If someone gave me one of these on the street, I wouldn't really know where it is from.

Everything is “right sized”; the meat, bun, and toppings were in EVERY bite! The bun was top notch, fresh and soft, and BIG.

Taste overall is an "A". I had a lot of bacon on my burger (which is a good thing), the right amount of cheese, and the pickles and onions were good too. The only thing I would change for the next time was to leave off the mustard.

Burger (meat) tastes like a handmade burger I’d get at a restaurant. And the paper wrapper in the box was a nice touch.

The meat is very well cooked and not dry.

Higher quality beef patty than expected from a fast-food restaurant.

The Angus Third Pounder with bacon and cheese is delicious. It competes with the Big Mac for my taste buds’ attention.

The sandwich is more filling than most other fast food sandwiches and doesn’t feel as unhealthy because the meat isn’t so greasy.

The Swiss cheese is very “creamy” giving the burger a rich flavor without tasting “fatty”.

Veggies taste fresh.

Lettuce, tomatoes, and bun seem fresher then most other McDonald's burgers.

For its size, the price is right.

The three options for the Angus Third Pounder are each unique enough to provide an attractive option to suit everyone’s preferences!

Mushroom & Swiss is good and BIG!

I was pleasantly surprised that the mushrooms and cheese did not squeeze out, but stayed with the burger, right to the last bite.

Practically perfect in every way – I just wish the calorie count was a little less.

Very tasty - I ate it slowly to enjoy every bite.

Comparable to my favorite burger.

It was not what I expected from a “fast food” burger. It was more like what I’d expect from a sit-down restaurant.

It was just like what is shown in the advertisements – not a disappointment.

The burger was cooked perfectly, bacon was just right, the bun was full, and both the Deluxe and Bacon & Cheese had distinctly different tastes.

I hope the Angus Burger retains this level of quality over time.

The McChronicles noted unanimous overwhelming satisfaction for the Angus Third Pounder. After the meal, most people were discussing which version they planned to try next. A couple people mentioned that they were considering trying a different version right then (but cooler heads prevailed). The McChronicles DID return the next day for another experience (the Deluxe was so good the first time that the same order was repeated).

In conclusion, there was unanimous delight in our sample group (admittedly, they are all fast-foodies and known to be McDonald's customers). The Angus Third Pounder received kudos for EVERYTHING, ranging from immaculate packaging, to burger construction/presentation, to options, to price, to ingredient freshness, and, most importantly, taste.

Learn more about McDonald's Angus Third Pounder here.

Let us know YOUR opinion.

Facebook Ad

2009-03-24T17:19:00.002-04:00

The McChronicles was just bouncing around Facebook and encountered this McDonald's ad. We don't recall seeing one Facebook before, do you?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: screen grab from Facebook.

"Eat Less Red Meat"

2009-03-24T08:44:00.007-04:00

According to a recent report on the findings of a research team led by Rashmi Sinha, Ph.D., from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, (as reported by CNN - all quotes are from the CNN article):

"People who eat red meat every day have a higher risk of dying over a
10-year period -- mostly because of cardiovascular disease or cancer --than
their peers who eat less red or processed meat".

Of course, upon hearing this, any burger lover would be wise to take notice, to consider the facts of the report. Further details clear some things up:

Over a 10-year period, people who ate the most red meat every day (about
62.5 grams per 1,000 calories per day, equivalent to a quarter-pound burger or
small steak per day) had about a 30 percent greater risk of dying compared with
those who consumed the least amount of red meat (a median of 9.8 grams per 1,000 calories per day). The excess mortality was mostly the result of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

So, if we do NOT eat the equivalent of a quarter pounder EVERY DAY, and if we consume less red meat per day, or if we consume red meat only a few times per week, we're OK - is the way The McChronicles reads it (please comment if you feel this conclusion is incorrect).

The report adds:

In contrast, people who ate the most white meat seemed to have a
slightly lower mortality risk during the study than those who consumed the
least amount of white meat. White meat included chicken, turkey, and fish,
as well as some poultry products and canned tuna.

So, if we eat chicken and fish (mostly), we'll be OK - is the way The McChronicles reads this (again, please comment if ...).

In conclusion, The McChronicles LOVES hamburgers and McDoubles, but is certainly content with chicken and filet-o-fish sandwiches. In the future, we plan to mix it up to keep things in the recommended balance.

Everything in moderation!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Image: The McChronicles.

McDonald's French Fries

2009-03-21T17:25:00.003-04:00

The McChronicles dropped by a McDonald's for a quick and simple lunch, including a small french fries. In short, it was everything it was supposed to be:

fresh
fast
warm
flavorful
perfectly salted
cooked just long enough
served with a smile

Add to that the fact that the rest of the meal arrived under the same conditions, and that the dining room was neat and clean, and we were delighted.

The perfect McDonald's experience!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDOnald's.
Image: The McChronicles.

Snack Wrap MAC

2009-03-19T21:02:00.005-04:00

According to QSR Magazine:

Canadians can enjoy ... for a limited time only ... the launch of the Mac Snack Wrap. The latest menu item from McDonald's combines all of the delicious toppings of a Big Mac sandwich in a handy, snack-sized tortilla.
The Mac Snack Wrap will be available at participating McDonald's restaurants in Canada, from March 17 to May 18. This new menu item combines McDonald's delicious 100 percent pure beef, Big Mac special sauce, lettuce, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, pickles, and onions on a warm flour tortilla for $1.89 plus applicable taxes.

Interesting.

This sandwich was apparently tested in Wisconsin last year.

Does this sound tasty to you?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Image: The FastFood Maven

McCafe: Tap Into The Coffee House Trend?

2009-02-25T11:44:00.009-05:00

It seems, to The McChronicles, that coffee houses, with their third-placers, laptoppers, and modern-day beatniks and troubadors, are all the rage - at least in North America. We are constantly seeing, hearing about, and experiencing, acoustic performers, laptop users, spoken word artists, latte sippers, and the like in these unique and very interesting shops.

To us it is not a stretch to see the McDonald's McCafe concept tap into this vibe. Here is our suggestion:

Create a temporary "stage" or performing area in an appropriate corner of a McDonald's reataurant.

Declare some night to be "McCafe Thursday Night" (whatever night works best locally) and promote it as such.

Feature a local acoustic artist to perform appropriate material for a one-, two-, or three-hour period (whatever suits the local flavor)

In The McChronicles' "home McDonald's", this would require either living with the permanent tables that are at one end of the dining room, or replacing them with moveable tables and chairs. It would only affect two small tables and the corner is perfect as it:

has power (for a small PA system)
is "secure", no one can get behind the performer
is near the rest rooms
is away from the order counter and front door - it will not interfere with people coming in or going out, order taking, etc.

To The McChronicles this seems like a low-risk, fun, low-cost way to:

feature the McCafe program and get more people to experience it
attract customers that wouldn't otherwise be there
appeal to a unique demographic
become a stronger part of the community

This isn't some revolutionary idea, mind you. In a previous McChronicles post, we shared the story of the band that, "... has been packing the house each week for nearly two years. The music starts at 7, but people start claiming their seats around 5. Anyone arriving after 6:30 will probably have to stand." Yes, it happens in a McDonald's.

There is NO WAY that we're suggesting that McDonald's is the brand to compete with local coffee houses. That's not the case, and that's not going to happen. The McChronicles is only saying that this concept IS appealing to a certain segment of people who ARE already McDonald's customers and who WILL go to McDonald's for something a little funky and offbeat.

Not a novel idea, but a cool idea for the times.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Image: Dave Snediker performs at THE TRAMONTANE CAFE, Utica, NY.

McDonald's Soup

2009-01-31T11:20:00.002-05:00

We're deep in the heart of winter (in the northern hemisphere) and McDonald's is serving up SOUP. What kinds of soup? According to the McDonald's website:

Vegetable Beef
Broccoli Cheese
Chicken Noodle

According to About.com, the most popular soups are:

Chicken noodle
Tomato
Minestrone
Vegetable

Campbells tells the top soups are:

Chicken Noodle
Tomato

Wikipedia chimes in with:

Chicken Noodle
Tomato
Cream of Mushroom

So, why is it that the #2 most popular soup, tomato, is missing from McDonald's menu? There's probably a good reason - The McChronicles would like to know.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's. Image: KissTheHem blog.

McDonald's Egg Nog Shake

2008-12-21T14:32:00.003-05:00

Like the Shamrock Shake, McDonald's Egg Nog Shake is a seasonal treat with a limited availability.

The McChronicles has discussed the Egg Nog Shake before, with regards to spotty availability. Last evening, while others were migrating en masse to the malls, The McChronicles navigated HEAVY holiday traffic to experience the 2008 Egg Nog product.

Availability: we pulled into our closest local McDonald's (no "Egg Nog Shake" promo on the exterior) and requested the product. No problem, it was available and pushed across the counter in minutes.

Quality: The Egg Nog Shake was quick, easy, cool, and clean - almost everything we are promised - and hope for. The McChronicles took a sip and detected a peculiar flavor - something a bit "chemically" that clearly rang out and put a bit of a damper on the experience.

Maybe it was just us, or maybe it was the store, or maybe it is the 2008 recipe. We don't know. But The McChronicles WILL head out today for a resample at a different McDonald's. More later.

The McChronicles: a b;og about, nmot affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: jeromes

O.C. Register's Nancy Luna Investigates McDonald's Farm & Factories

2008-12-13T13:45:00.003-05:00

Nancy Luna, good friend of The McChronicles, fast food maven blogger, and reporter for Orange County California's O.C. Register, just released a two-part series that explores one-each of the farms and factories responsible for McDonald's foods. We just finished reviewing the stories and slide shows - and The McChronicles loves it! Great job, Nancy.

In Part 1, "Fresh Buns: How Does McDonald's Get Them?", Nancy visits Brea, California-based Fresh Start Bakeries, and witnesses the entire bun manufacturing process. That's Nancy, all suited up, in the top image.

This tour of the company's Ontario, CA facility, was led by Plant Manager, Bob Mitchell. Bob's new $22-million facility cranks out 14.4 million buns per week! Nancy was joined by visiting nutritionists and they saw it all.

One segment of the tour was led by McDonald's head of U.S. Supply Chain Management, Todd Bacon. Quoting from Nancy's report, "Bacon, who holds a doctorate in "meat science," discussed the strict controls and guidelines McDonald's places on vendors and suppliers. Rules apply for just about any kind of scenario along the food chain — from how to treat a sick broiler chicken to requiring hot buns to pass through metal detectors." Good stuff.

This report includes a very interesting slide show (pix snapped by Nancy). It is worth the read. You'll even grab an awesome trivia point: How many sesame seeds adorn a sesame seed bun? The answer is in the slide show.

In Part 2 of the two-part series, titled, McDonald's: Let-tuce Assure You of Quality, Nancy visits lettuce supplier Taylor Farms, in California's Salinas Valley. She opens her story with, "I will never look at a McDonald's salad the same way again."

Nancy is no stranger to food safety and related health issues. As a reporter, she has covered this beat for years. She has a keen eye for the issue. So, impressing her is quite a feat. Nancy reports, "Taylor's safety reputation is considered to be the "gold standard" of the Salinas Valley with its plant subject to 62 audits a year."

According to Nancy, "We saw everything from the hearty green leaf lettuces used in Angus burgers to delicate, red oaks found in the chain's entree salads."

Nancy was joined by other industry professionals on this tour and shared this:

Mary Barbour, a Los Angeles dietitian and tour participant, said she was impressed by the level of care taken "at every stage" of the growing and packing process. She also noted that the spring mix varieties mirrored selections used in salads found at top, fine-dining restaurants.
"The next time I'm craving a gourmet salad, I'll go to McDonalds knowing the quality of care that is placed in every serving," she told me after the tour.

For more on Nancy's detailed experience at the farm, read the second part of her story. A slide show accompanies this segment, too.

The McChronicles really appreciates the effort that Nancy invested to capture and deliver this excellent two-part story. We also appreciate McDonald's increasingly open and transparent stance regarding sharing information with the public. Name another fast food purveyor that even comes close to this level of openness.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: Nancy Luna.

McDonalds.com/QualityFood

2008-12-05T20:49:00.001-05:00

If you are interested in the quality of McDonald's food (everyone SHOULD be interested in the quality of the food they eat), then do spend 5 minutes at www.mcdonalds.com/qualityfood.

This website offers up all sorts of info about various products. For example, The McChronicles drilled down into the chicken sandwich and was presented with a Q&A session that informed us, "First, we fry the breaded all white meat chicken strips in our Canola oil blend. While the chicken is cooking, the flour tortilla is being heated. " There are TEN pages of this stuff, just for chicken!

There was much more, and even deeper drilling available for full nutritional information.

Check it out. This stuff is important to know.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: screen grab from www.mcdonalds.com.qualityfood.

Gibson, PA McDonald's

2008-12-05T20:16:00.007-05:00

The McChronicles was in Gibson, Pennsylvania today (or were we in New Milford? - both cities are listed on the receipt). Anyway, this regular McDonald's store is right off US Interstate Highway 81 in northeast PA.

store #: 28453
city: Gibson, Pennsylvania
order:

McDouble $1.00
Small Fries $1.00
Water free (in cup)

The store is handy (easy access to the interstate) and pretty "standard looking" as approached from the parking lot. As we entered, it was obvious that this store was quite clean and friendly.

Let's start with friendly. We were greeted by the smiling "Mercedes" who had several counter customers backed up (waiting for their food to arrive). Was she distressed? Rude? No! She was very pleasant. As the orders arrived she got them to all the right people and everyone was happy. Mercedes is a great counter person.

After our order was ready we turned to the condiment counter. To our surprise, the area was a wreck. It didn't make sense - since everything else was so tidy it just didn't fit.

As we took our seat, we noticed that the dining area was decorated in a very crisp, neat style. It felt very warm and inviting. Everything was tidy and clean - even the salt and pepper shakers were all lined up properly. This place was really looking good. Impressive!

As we ate we kept thinking about that messy condiment area. It was so out of place.

After a fast meal (about 5 minutes) The McChronicles headed out. We passed by the condiment area and ... well, let the picture speak for itself. Apparently we arrived immediately AFTER a messy customer. Somebody had been busy cleaning while we ate. The whole area was sparkling! It makes sense.

Great job Gibson!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's McDouble: Part 2 (more info - slightly)

2008-12-03T21:19:00.003-05:00

The McChronicles couldn't let it sit. Fueled by the several comm ents at our previous posting on The McDoub le (thanks everyone!), we went to the next McDonald's down the road (New Hartford, NY: store #825) to see how they rolled out the McDouble. It wasn't expected to be a big difference since they are both owned by the same man.

Anyway, we noted that everything, including the price, was the same, the McDouble is on the dollar menu. What we DID notice was that this McDouble was wrapped in slightly different but equally mysterious paper (top image), like yesterday's McDouble from the other store (bottom image).

The McChronicles guesses that these stores just don't have the proper wrappers yet.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDouble! McDonald's Newest Product.

2008-12-02T14:02:00.003-05:00

The McChronicles dropped by McDonald's today for lunch and detected a change to the Dollar Menu.

Missing was the double cheeseburger, replacing it was the new McDouble. The McDouble is a double cheeseburger with only one slice of cheese. The McChronicles was told by the crew at the Clinton, NY McDonald's (store #2499) that the McDouble was launched yesterday, December 1st.

According to speculation on bloggingstocks, "One possibility is that McDonald's will attempt to market the new burger as healthier, eliminating one slice of cheese hacks off 15% of the fat and 11% of the calories." The blog also says, "Analysts estimate that the McStingy will cost about six cents less to make -- combined with the company's plan to raise the price to about the dollar mark, it could spell increased profitability for the chain."

Immediately after this experience, a friend of The McChronicles, Neal, called and reported that he, too, was surprised by the menu tweak.

Neal (a 20-year old college student) added these points:

I never realized a double cheeseburger had TWO slices of cheese to begin with
I don't detect any big difference with only one slice of cheese
I don't think $0.19 is a lot for one slice of cheese

The McChronicles WAS surprised at the price effect that the one slice of cheese had. The McChronicles also wonders if the McDouble (pictured here) is in a temporary wrapper or if this is the final design.

Please COMMENT with your McDouble experience.

FOLLOW UP NOTE: See the McChronicles' subsequent posting on The McDouble.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

Happy Thanksgiving! McDonald's-style

2008-11-27T10:43:00.002-05:00

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is where The McChronicles found Ronald McDonald today.

According to the show's announcers, the Ronald McDonald balloon weighs 375 pounds and requires 55 people to keep it on the right path.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: daylife.com

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON from The McChronicles!!!

2008-11-26T18:06:00.004-05:00

Let's kick off this holiday season with a spirited celebration of McDonald's!
Here is what you get when you mix ElfYourself with McDonald's.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The McChronicles CAN'T WAIT to hear your COMMENTS ...

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Video: ElfYourself and JibJab.

McDonald's Monopoly Game

2008-11-20T16:53:00.001-05:00

The McChronicles just wrapped up another losing season of the McDonald's Monopoly game. The best we've ever done is to score some free fries.

Here is our unsuccessful game board and a McDonald's sign with an unfortunate typo on it. We would think that there would be a little quality control on the signs for a major promo program (not that WE haven't typo'd before ourselves).

Maybe next year!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

Quarter Pounder: The Store! (part 2)

2008-11-19T15:01:00.003-05:00

The McChronicles recently reported on a very focused store called QUARTER POUNDER. This very unique McDonald's has only two items on the menu: quarter pounder with cheese and double quarter pounder with cheese (you can also buy fries and beverages). There are 2 QUARTER POUNDERs, both in Tokyo.

Readers wanted to know WHAT? and WHY? So, The McChronicles investigated. Here is what we learned.

According to a plugged-in McDonald's insider, "This is creative buzz marketing. The CEO of McDonald's Japan is passionate about innovation, new thinking and breakthrough marketing."

The McChronicles' source added that McDonald's:

is about to launch the quarter pounder as a McDonald's branded product (currently quarter pounders are not sold in Japan). This is pre launch buzz. The burger and the brand will soon be reunited.
wanted to create a buzz around the burger and its name beforehand the product was launched.
had two McDonald's restaurants in key shopping streets in Tokyo which are about to close due to their leases ending. So, for their final days they created the "Quarter Pounder Store".

It is very interesting to note that these stores are unique restaurants that have no McDonald's branding. McDonald's built up customer interest for pedestrians by putting up boarding with peep holes so people could see some of the activity going on inside. Then, when they finally pulled the boarding down there was a store selling nothing but quarter pounders; still with no McDonald's branding, even on the fry box that came with the meals.

The result was huge lines - and the quarter pounder became "the thing to try".

The McChronicles is told that the making of the link between this new hamburger and McDonald's will occur at the official launch.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's
Images:

quarter-pounder.net

broccolicity.com

McDonald's Supports People In Need

2008-11-18T14:25:00.003-05:00

"... McDonald's has always had an understanding that charity is a good way to build good will. For the most part, it comports itself with dignity, very rarely discussing its charitable endeavors, most notably Ronald McDonald House."

This is a quote from Bob Garfield, advertising critic and editor-at-large with Advertising Age. More on this subject can be read in an interesting article appearing in QSR Magazine.The article goes on to cite McDonald's for promoting diversity, awarding millions in minority scholarships, sponsoring workshops to help minorities enter college, and for their Ronald McDonald House.

In this article, Cristina Alfaro, communications manager with McDonald's USA, says, "Through the collective efforts of our chapters, we've awarded $19 million in scholarship funds to 14,000 Hispanic students. We've also established a national scholarship program that awards $100,000 apiece to four Hispanic students."

This kind of goodwill makes The McChronicles want to run out and buy lunch!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: QSR Magazine article.

Attention McNugget Lovers

2008-11-18T11:22:00.004-05:00

Today, McDonald’s launched www.nuggnuts.com , an online fan community dedicated to honoring the devoted fans of McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets. The site launched this morning to pay tribute to the 25th anniversary of the popular menu item. Fans will have the opportunity to show why they deserve a coveted spot in the Nuggnuts Hall of Fame, learn the official McNuggets pledge, and purchase exclusive Nuggnuts apparel.

Two of the five individuals www.Nuggnuts.com is featuring are:

· Kevin Byers, an expert juggler and self-styled “Nuggler”, Kevin once juggled three Chicken McNuggets (after eating the 4th), a record 112 times late one night. He also attempted creating the world’s tallest McNugget tower.

· Adam Cater is the founder of “I Love Chicken McNuggets®” on Facebook. “I am the biggest McNuggets fan and I was trying to find everyone else in the world who also loves them like myself. I’d love to talk all day about my love for McNuggets. When I’m not eating McNuggets, I feel sad and empty inside.”

Comments anyone?

Quarter Pounder: The Store!

2008-11-12T22:07:00.004-05:00

Apparently there is a McDonald's restaurant in Tokyo, Japan called QUARTER POUNDER that sells only two items:

Quarter Pounder with cheese
Double Quarter Pounder with cheese

The first image is a grab from the QUARTER POUNDER store website.

The second image is a grab from broccolicity.com website, where The McChronicles first heard of this interesting concept.

From what we're able to gather, if you're in Tokyo, head to Omotesando Shibuya East and you'll be close (there's a map on the website).

It also appears that some beverages are also available, as are fries, though they do not appear on the menu that is on the website (though they do appear in an image there). Another hint at that is the fact that the store sells the Quarter Pounder as a "set" meal. Makes sense.

There is more info available at the inventorspot blog.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images:

quarter-pounder.net

broccolicity.com

(a follow-up to this story appears here.)

McDonald's International Media Days 2008: Review

2008-10-30T17:18:00.009-04:00

The McChronicles was offered a tremendous opportunity to experience McDonald's International Media Days 2008. What a better way to bring interesting information to the "customers" who are the very heart of our mission: "Chronicling the McDonald's Brand Experience From The Customers' Point Of View." We seized the chance and did our best to both experience the event and share it all with you in seven separate postings (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven).

The single most frequent question we've been asked is, "Well, what did you learn?" Then, that question is retracted in fear that The McChronicles will go on and on and never stop talking (and we could). The question is rephrased as, "What is the ONE THING you learned?"

The answer is simple. The McChronicles departed knowing that McDonald's is absolutely NOT the monolithic corporate behemoth that some accuse it of being. We are totally convinced that McDonald's is a wonderful collection of talented, capable, passionate, and fun people who care very much about their customers' experiences, their company, and their place in society.

During this event we interviewed, spoke with, and listened to people from a very wide range of roles and capacities, including: CEO, Vice President of Social Responsibility, Facility Engineers, Equipment Engineers, Chief Chef, Vice President of Beverage Strategy, Senior Media Relations Directors and Managers, Administrative Assistants, Crew, Store Managers, and more. We are convinced that such a large group of people simply can't fake sincerity, integrity, and passion in a way that we couldn't recognize. They're the real deal, and they ARE McDonald's.

The McChronicles can also share that these people are never satisfied. They are constantly seeking ways to improve their brand, to improve their business, and to delight their customers and employees. We fully expect McDonald's to accelerate their growth in product and concept development, leading to further enhancements of customer satisfaction.

This team knows they are not perfect - and they appreciate hearing both the good and the bad. The McChronicles was delighted to witness eager interest when we discussed issues and problems. Lest you think we've become a shill for McDonald's, rest assured that The McChronicles will continue to comment on opportunities for improvement - and we will continue calling out the good things, too. Mainly because we are a customer, and we experience McDonald's from OUR side of the counter. Now we know that McDonald's appreciates the feedback as well, and is eager to consider the customers' opinions. It's also clear that they aim to improve because of them.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's International Media Days 2008 (Day 3, Part 2)

2008-10-30T17:17:00.000-04:00

This posting will wrap up The McChronicles experience at McDonald's International Media Days 2008. It was an incredibly rich 3 days of information, accessibility to people, and insight. Here is how it concluded.

After we departed McDonald's advertising agency, DDB, where we learned of the two latest corporate initiatives, we headed to the McDonald's 50th Anniversary Restaurant located at 600 N. Clark St., in Chicago. It is a pretty special restaurant on one hand as it is relatively large, super tidy, two-storied, double-drive-thru'd, McCafe'd, etc. - yet, on the other hand, it seems pretty normal with all the usual offerings, decor, etc. In other words, it was an exciting place in which to feel at home.

Our first move was to continue the official rollout of the new "1 minute to move it" (one minute to move it) campaign by joining a bunch of local elementary school children as they "moved" their minds, bodies, and souls by taking part in various activities (exercise, art, puzzles, games, challenges, etc.). Joining them was U.S. Olympic gold medal winner Shawn Johnson (who spoke at the formal announcement ceremony at DDB). She is the perfect age to get the playfulness of the kids, to be full of curiosity herself, and to also understand the ramifications of "moving it" for 1 minute. Of course, her fame is also very valuable for the program. Anyway, she was fully immersed in the activities - no "star" issues here - and certainly appeared to enjoy it all.

The McChronicles thinks these rollout events are very valuable and would like to see them continue throughout 2009 (versus ending quickly). These examples and opportunities are a very helpful method of reminding us all that it is important to enrich ourselves. The question is ... is this McDonald's JOB to pay for this? We all know that it is NICE to be reminded about these valuable activities, but who owns the responsibility?

Even if McDonald's isn't responsible, it still may be a good way to keep us all visiting them. Interesting.

Our next move was to enjoy lunch. After sampling so many new and exotic McDonald's specialties during the week, The McChronicles settled into familiar territory by ordering a double cheeseburger. After the recent double cheeseburger value meal issue, we were surprised to learn that this special McDonald's has NO dollar value meal menu - and to pay $2.15 for the sandwich. That's a lot more than the $1.00 The McChronicles pays back home.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's International Media Days 2008 (Day 3, Part 1)

2008-10-29T14:24:00.014-04:00

This morning The McChronicles was at the offices of DDB, one of McDonald's advertising agencies, for two very special announcements - and for a very special surprise.

McDonald's Chief Marketing Officer, Mary Dillon, introduced these items this morning:

a McDonald's tie-in to the Upcoming Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa movie, complete with a new slogan

new global McDonald's packaging - with an emphasis on the product

MADAGASCAR: Escape 2 Africa

Beyond the obvious technique of linking a (hopefully) popular movie with their product for promotional purposes, this move plans to use the movie's characters, as well as special events and information to help children move beyond pure physical well-being and add more fulfillment to their lives. At the heart of this effort is a new slogan: 1 minute to move it (one minute to move it).

The "move it" part addresses moving your body and getting some exercise, and also includes moving your mind, your spirit, and your sense of self. Children (and, presumably all of us) are encouraged to take a minute whenever we need it and move our brains, work on a puzzle, a project, or a hobby. We are encouraged to take 1 minute to contemplate what we think is fun, fulfilling, and rewarding. Here is a link to the McDonald's One Minute To Move It introductory video. The McChronicles thinks it is a very interesting concept and hopes it works.

Interestingly, the "I'm Lovin' It" campaign will not disappear.

The McChronicles asked Mary Dillon if the "1 Minute To Move It" (one minute to move it) rollout-type activities will continue throughout 2009 or if the activity will simply settle into ads and slogans (we didn't word it the way it sounds here - we were not snarky about it). Mary replied, "We are considering it." The McChronicles feels that seeing McDonald's actually "move it" throughout the campaign would be a great example for our children and hopes to see a long-term implementation of such activities.

The coolest part of this announcement: McDonald's brought in gold medal Olympian Shawn Johnson to encourage kids to take 1 minute to move it. That's her in the top picture - moving it as only she can while encouraging kids to follow her example. Very cool! PS: Shawn was very gracious and fun - just as we hoped she would be. She is truly a delight and an excellent choice for such a role.

PACKAGING UPDATE

According to Mary Dillon (image: as she delivered the info - standing in front of some over-sized examples of the new look), "This is the biggest packaging initiative in the history of our brand." That's big news for sure! She echoed a theme The McChronicles has heard all week when she said, "This packaging is all about 'simple, easy enjoyment' ".

The company cited the four major goals of this packaging:

move from "fast food" to "good food fast"
simple, easy enjoyment
build a strong relationship with customers
build a strong, modern brand identity

Examples of the packaging, as they will appear in various global areas, appear below. The actual materials of the packaging were previously upgraded to a more ecological mix, so the only change here is the graphics. The McChronicles likes the graphics as they feel crisp and fun. In addition, nutritional information is easy to find quickly. Also, look for a switch away from "lifestyle" imagery and for a much stronger emphasis on the actual product, its ingredients, and its nutritional information. The McChronicles thinks this looks good while moving health-related issues to the forefront.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's International Media Days 2008 (Day 2, Part 3)

2008-10-29T13:43:00.004-04:00

Day 2 of McDonald's International Media Days was FULL of interesting information and insights. In the afternoon The McChronicles was able to meet with Chef Dan Coudreaut, Corporate Chef, USA, in his test kitchen.

Dan was accompanied by several vendor partners who (along with several other vendors) share in the development, testing, and inventiveness. Chef Dan stressed that creating new McDonald's menu items is a team effort. Some of the vendors were from Cargill (oils) and Sargento (cheeses). Chef Dan also made it clear that he enjoys "the discovery process" and that he is comfortable when he, occasionally, "doesn't know what he doesn't know".

Chef Dan says he often begins with input or direction from his teammates in Marketing. After all, it is they who usually know what customers want, or which ingredients and product families contribute to profitability, sales, or optimal inventory utilization.

Chef Dan took the opportunity to demonstrate a product development process, based on the Snack Wrap platform (check out the brief video clips of Chef Dan in action). He shared a basic design system, then introduced a huge table of potential ingredients. Wow! What choices.

The McChronicles asked Chef Dan if he had any "failures" that surprised him. He said he really thought the taco + quesadilla (tacodilla) concept would resonate with people in the USA. According to Chef Dan, "I loved it, but it tanked."

That's OK, Chef Dan. You've created plenty of winners.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images & Videos: The McChronicles.

McRib Update: A SPECIAL REPORT from The McChronicles While At McDonald's International Media Days 2008

2008-10-29T00:53:00.005-04:00

The McChronicles receives numerous requests for information related to The McRib. People ask:

Where is the McRib?

Why is it back?

Where did it go?

Why does it come and go?

What the ...?

and, occasionally, "There IS a McRib?"

The McChronicles promised to seek the answers - and for this risky assignment we went straight to the top. Today The McChronicles held a face-to-face discussion with McDonald's Debra McDaniel, the Senior Director of U.S. Menu Management (pictured just seconds before she dealt with the McRib issue). This makes the second time that we consulted with Debra on the McRib in two days. Here is what she had to say:

"When we keep the McRib on the menu, orders eventually start falling off."

Bringing the McRib on and off the market is "the best way to deliver it in consistent high quality" under these conditions.

"Another example of a product that McDonald's 'pulses' on and off the market is the Shamrock Shake." (Deb came up with that one after thinking about the question overnight - and it is a great analogy.)

So, there you have it McRib fans, straight from the source. In essence, when the McRib is allowed to remain on the menu, orders drop and the product is not sustainable. When the product comes and goes, we go wild for it and buy it like it is going out of style (which it is - until Debra brings it back).

Know one thing, Debra is a passionate McDonald's employee who truly loves her products and how they please us all. The McChronicles has seen this firsthand. She's not jerking us around - in fact, it seems like we are messing with her. The McChronicles concludes that we have met the enemy and it is us. To resolve the McRib issue we need to consistently order more McRib sandwiches. Deb would like nothing better than to make it a permanent fixture on her menu.

This has been a SPECIAL REPORT from The McChronicles.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: iRyanHD (poster), Debra McDaniel (The McChronicles)

McDonald's International Media Days 2008 (Day 2, Part 2)

2008-10-29T00:11:00.009-04:00

Next up on Day 2 of McDonald's International Media Days 2008 was Senior Director, U.S. Restaurant Design, Max Carmona who outlined the company's Green Building Strategy. And, if you think this is just about the building, you will be surprised.

But, speaking of buildings ... did you know?:

there are 14,000 McDonald's restaurants in the U.S.
there are 31,000 McDonald's restaurants in the world.
the concept of a "Green Restaurant" has been under development for years and is now already rolled out in the south side of Chicago.
Green Restaurants are under construction in France, Brazil, and Canada.

The bottom line of Max's assignment is to create a functional and environmentally progressive facility that "satisfies both the customers' perception and the crew's satisfaction".

Max outlined critical elements of his program, grouping them into four major categories:

water reduction
energy reduction
materials of construction
social equity

Then, Max delivered The McChronicles to the actual Green Restaurant, on the corner of 42nd and Ashland on Chicago's South Side (a community known as "Back Of The Yards"). There we were met by Doug Kimball (pictured) who provided an extremely detailed tour of this living laboratory. The tour started with two drawings of the facility, a site overview and a building detail.

The site and building exterior feature innovations including: LED signage that consumes tons less energy,permeable paving that allows rainwater to soak into the water table versus swamping the public drainage system, a cistern that collects storm water used to water the native vegetation - both on the ground and on the roof, skylights, and a heat recovery system. Trust The McChronicles - there is lots more.

Doug then headed indoors where he handed The McChronicles over to John Rockwell who pointed out features such as: low-flow plumbing features saving water per flush, LED lighting and a computerized system that measures natural light and adjusts artificial lighting accordingly, multiple recycling stations, and building materials (tables, chairs, divider walls, decorations, etc.) made from recycled materials such as milk and detergent containers, ceramic floor tile made from 40% pre-consumer waste material, and decor made using low-emitting materials.

Honestly, it was difficult to take it all in on the first pass.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's International Media Days 2008 (Day 2, Part 1)

2008-10-28T18:53:00.008-04:00

The McChronicles enjoyed an excellent Day 2 of McDonald's International Media Days 2008.

This morning started out with a presentation on McDonald's Strategic Beverage Initiative. Speaking was Mr. Lee Renz, Vice President of U.S. National Beverage Strategy (top image). Mr.Lenz stated that it is McDonald's goal to become, "a beverage destination". In addition to the company's carbonated and bottled beverages, and the shakes, coffees, etc., McDonald's is moving into latte's, espressos, frappes, and smoothies. These beverages will come to us from an increasing number of McCafes.

Now, there will be two distinct McCafe strategies. "Globally" a McCafe will include beverages and food - sometimes a restaurant in a restaurant, sometimes (as does already exist in places) a stand-alone. In the USA, a McCafe will be a beverage-only affair and will only be found within a McDonald's restaurant. This is said to be because corporate research strongly indicated that U.S. customers prefer beverage products only versus a beverage and pastry offering.

Renz went on to say:

"We are trying to develop a new brand underneath the McCafe umbrella."

"We focus on our customers, their desires, and their behavior when they visit us."

The goal is that, "all eligible restaurants are able to offer these products". (there are about 12,700 "eligible restaurants" in the U.S.)

The full rollout of the U.S. McCafe project will conclude near the end of 2010 and has already started. Renz added that McDonald's "has tons of great ideas" for the expansion of the project. It seems that this idea has a great chance of florishing beyond the current scheme

Later in the day The McChronicles sampled existing and prototype McCafe beverages. From hot chocolates, to caramel and coffee frappes, to smoothies - this product suite seems to have something for most everyone. The McChronicles does NOT like coffee, yet we found the caramel and coffee frappe very tasty - even with the distinct coffee flavor. Interesting!

The next event began when Bob Langert, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility (bottom image), took the stage. Bob started McDonald's Corporate Responsibility blog - a very meaningful tool for both reaching out to, and opening up to, the world. Do make the link.

Bob took this opportunity to announce the McDonald's 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report (being released later today). You can read the report using the link, so we will stick to Bob's presentation and discussion.

Bob continually emphasized "responsible food" and said, McDonald's wants to go beyond rhetoric and "bring corporate responsibility to life".

The McChronicles wants to thank Bob for taking the more difficult high road and continually making McDonald's activities more transparent while being a part of the team making McDonald's actions increasingly exemplary. For these (and other) efforts, "The Roberts Environmental Center at Claremont McKenna College has given McDonald's an A+ for the quality of our voluntary reporting on environmental and social issues. We are the only company in the food services sector to receive so high a grade."

The McChronicles' bottom line is, "Chronicling the McDonald's Brand Experience From The Customers' Point Of View", so, as customers, we really appreciate any and all efforts to make both our McDonald's dining experience, as well as our time here on Earth, a more enjoyable, responsible, and sustainable event.

More to come! Stay tuned.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's International Media Days 2008 (Day 1, Part 2)

2008-10-27T23:36:00.025-04:00

The second part of our first day of McDonald's International Media Days (see part of McDonald's International Media Days 2008) was much less formal and a lot more hands-on. And since it was getting to be about that time, The McChronicles is talking about hands on LUNCH!

Today's lunch was served in McDonald's ultra-top secret "Innovation Center". Seriously, this place has such limited access that many of ther McDonald's staff that accompanied The McChronicles into the facility expressed excitement that THEY were able to get inside. A tour of this detail, with the degree of openness that we experienced was said to be "unprecedented".

Now, while The McChronicles WAS hungry, it was still all about, "Chronicling the McDonald's Brand Experience From The Customers' Point Of View." Here's what we learned (in between bites and while touring the facility):

There are some very tasty new foods in the pipeline.

There are some very tasty foods in existence around the world that aren't in your region.

There are some very sophisticated processes (and equipment) in place - and being put into place - to keep our meals tasty, consistent, and safe.

There are some very cool ideas as to how to make our total experience faster and more accurate/rewarding.

There are some very dedicated professionals working hard behind the scenes to make this all happen for us.

PIPELINE:

A discussion and demonstration and video of experimental equipment led up to the cool new products that were under consideration. While we didn't get to sample any of the "concepts" The McChronicles can report that all sorts of food products are being evaluated, from vegetables, to beverages, to traditional sandwiches made in new ways.

INTERNATIONAL MENU:
The McChronicles dove into a table full of food that can only be found in McDonald's around the world. As loyal readers know, The McChronicles travels extensively, but having such a variety of meals in one room at one time was special, even for this experienced traveller. We enjoyed the (sort of) previously-reported on Shaka Shaka Chicken (it was potato in our report from 2006). This version of the Japanese Shaka Shaka concept is a real winner. The concept is to receive an already tasty piece of chicken in a semi-sealed bag, insert your personal favorite selection of spices, shake it up (shaka shaka) and enjoy it. The McChronicles tried the lemon pepper spice and LOVED it, a lot.

Another of the several awesome regional products is THE CBO. CBO, from France, stands for Chicken, Bacon, Onions. With the proper garnishment, a slice of cheese, and sauce, this sandwich is awesome.

The McChronicles' favorite was the Canadian Angus Burger. All we can say is, Wow! The garlic mayonnaise is just right and adds the perfect flair to the basic large burger. Loyal readers will recognize, by studying the 3 photos of the Angus Burger, that McDonald's is using the "McPamper" concept suggested by The McChronicles in 2005. See the three photos at the top of this post. This sandwich, and others, can be silghtly unwieldy and juicy, and the extra support from the included piece of tissue paper really helps. Thanks, McDonald's.

There were others, but these were our highlights.

PROCESSES:
Fry lovers - occasionally disappointed by fries that are: undersalted, oversalted, undercooked, overcooked, too cold, cooked in less-than-perfect oil? Sure you are. The McChronicles witnessed a new machine called the LOV Fryer (low oil volume) that uses less oil and less energy while frequently filtering the oil (keeping it cleaner), using less oil so the oil can be changed more frequently, while automatically salting the fries with the proper distribution and volume. We sampled the machine's output - best McDonald's fries we ever tasted!

BETTER EXPERIENCE:
McDonald's demonstrated some new software the allows us, the customer, to place our own order (like we do when checking in at an airpoirt, for example) from a very intuitive, simple to use touch-screen menu. It not only is easy to find what you are looking for, change it, go back in mid-order and delete things, etc., but it also presents more choices than the traditional wall-mounted menu has space for. Curmudgeons and traditionalists may not like it, but anyone under 40 has been yearning for such control (and speed) for a long time now. Yeah!

DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS:
The concept of a "McDonald's Engineer" is probably not in most of our heads, but such people do exist - and they are working hard to make our McDonald's experience better. The McChronicles had the opportunity to chat briefly with a few. Truth be told, they are almost geekily into automation, process excellence, pareto charting, focus grouping, video monitoring, and the like. Hey, we don't need them at our parties, we just appreciate the fact that they make our lunches more consistent, safer, and faster. The last photo is one we snapped while in the top secret Innovation Center. Stand down McChronicles legal counsel - we were granted permission for this long-distance shot.

That's it for today. More tomorrow.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's International Media Days 2008 (Day 1, Part 1)

2008-10-27T18:05:00.018-04:00

The McChronicles is currently participating in McDonald's International Media Days. This event (the 4th of it's kind in recent times) is being held in various cities near McDonald's global HQ (near Chicago, Illinois, USA).

While some participants are focused on corporate financials, and while McDonald's is focusing in a variety of messages this week, The McChronicles is here for one purpose: "Chronicling the McDonald's Brand Experience From The Customers' Point Of View."

Stop 1 on Day 1 was at McDonald's Hamburger University. According to Wikipedia, "This corporate university was designed to instruct personnel employed by McDonald's in the various aspects of the business. Over 70,000 managers have graduated from the institution and it has 30 resident professors."

The first event was a question and answer session with top McDonald's corporate executives: Jim Skinner: Vice Chairman and CEO; Ralph Alvarez: President and COO; Pete Bensen: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Don Thompson: President - McDonald's USA; Jose Armario: President - Canada & Latin America; Dave Garland: Vice President & CFO - Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa; and Denis Hennequin: President - McDonald's Europe. It was quite an opportunity to listen to their prepared remarks as well as their answers to the media's questions.

(image 2: Don Thompson, Pete Bensen, Ralph Alvarez, and Jim Skinner field questions).

Jim Skinner actually said quite a few things that made it clear he is focusing on the customer's point of view. Among them:

Our customers think of us as their local neighborhood restaurant.
The moment of truth: the moment we interact with our customer.

He also discussed his corporate program, called "Plan To Win" , which emphasizes people, product, place, price, and promotion. This theme came to the surface during other presentations throughout the day.

The McChronicles has learned, through interviewing restaurant managers, that offering "friendlier" service is a corporate priority. Therefore, it was interesting to hear those exact words from Ralph Alvarez when he said, "We are friendlier, faster, and more accurate than we were five years ago."

Pete Bensen, corporate number cruncher, was aligned when he commented that, "At McDonald's, the most important number is number 'one' (a reference to an earlier statement that the customer is number one). If we don't get these 'ones' right, all the other numbers don't matter."

And on it went. Don Thompson saying things like:

We are, "strengthening our focus on the customer."
We want, "friendly service and fast, accurate delivery every time."

So, The McChronicles probed and asked the panel to describe specifically HOW all these words will eventually reach us - the customer. The McChronicles mentioned that executives aren't the people grilling and serving. We wanted to know how the crew will get this message and, most importantly, how they will be empowered to do what they know is the proper thing.

Both Jim Skinner and Don Thompson did a good job of describing how information and education are being created to enable store owners and managers to educate, train, and coach their crew. Later in the day more info on this topic arose when The McChronicles saw how processes, software, and even equipment are designed and built to make the crews' efforts more effective - with the two-part goal of making their time with the customer warmer and more friendly AND enabling their activities to produce more consistent food faster.

More on Day 1 in the next post (off to dinner now).

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: The McChronicles.

Double Cheeseburger Issue (part 3)

2008-10-24T14:24:00.006-04:00

The McChronicles enjoyed yesterday's double cheeseburger so much that ... well ... you know.

Today The McChronicles and a friend stopped back in for more. And, we got to thinking. We wondered about the differences between what we were "sold" and what we actually received.

So, we ordered two sandwiches (Big Mac, double cheeseburger), snapped their pictures (as received), then went online to see what McDonald's are telling us they SHOULD look like (sold).

We're not going to tell you which is which.

What do you think?

Images:
McDonald's double cheeseburger, McDonald's Big Mac: McDonalds.com.
Other images: The McChronicles.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Double Cheeseburger Issue (part 2)

2008-10-23T16:30:00.003-04:00

Fans of The McChronicles will recall vividly how The McChronicles discussed the "goings-on" related to the double cheeseburger. Here is more info.

Background:
McDonald's is reportedly experimenting with either removing the double cheeseburger from the dollar menu or cheapening it up by removing cheese, or discontinuing it. Prices (for some version of the above) are said to be ranging from $1.00 to $1.09 to $1.19.

Today:
Being in a "need to know" mode, The McChronicles drove to our home McDonald's, took a look at the menu and - BAM! There it was, double cheeseburger, $1. Just like always. Apparently, The McChronicles was not in a test zone.

LOCATION: New Hartford, NY (Route 5)
STORE #: 825
ORDER: Double cheeseburger, small fries, bottled water

Result:
The McChronicles purchased a double cheeseburger, a small order of fries, and enjoyed it - a lot.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles.

Double Cheeseburger Issue (part 1)

2008-10-21T21:20:00.004-04:00

According to a comment posted at Netflix's MOVIE FANS site, and pointed to by a McChronicles commentor:

"you have to ask for a dbl hamburger with cheese to get the one for $1! If you ask for a dbl cheeseburger they charge you $1.19..."

Well, according to an article on consumerist.com:
"In an interview, Don Thompson, president of McDonald's U.S. business, said the company has tested ways to make the burger less expensive to make. Some restaurants are selling it with one slice of cheese instead of two, and billing it as a "double hamburger with cheese." Others are offering a double hamburger without cheese. Some are selling the traditional double cheeseburger at prices ranging from $1.09 to $1.19."

Does anyone have a definitive comment or statement on this?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: Nancy Luna's excellent Fast Food Maven. She covered this story months ahead of The McChronicles.

A Consistently Excellent McDonald's

2008-10-21T20:45:00.001-04:00

Kudos to the Johnstown, NY McDonald's. It seems that every time the McChronicles drops by, things are in great shape.

LOCATION: Johnstown, NY (Route 30A, Pyramid Mall)
STORE #: 4858
ORDER: Quarter Pounder w/o cheese, bottled water

Previously they received accolades for their awesome presentation. Today they are going to receive praise for their cleanliness. The first impression, upon driving up to the store on a fine fall afternoon, was that the exterior was bright, clean, tidy, and very inviting. The building is in fine repair, and the landscaping is impeccable.

Once inside the restaurant ... just as expected: very clean. The McChronicles asked a crew member why the place was so clean. Her answer seemed perfect. Paraphrasing, she said something to the effect of: People like to know that their food is prepared in a clean place. This IS a clean place, the food is carefully prepared, and our cleanliness tells our customers all this as soon as they walk in.

Actually, The McChronicles could tell from across the parking lot. This place is very clean.

Congratulations, and thanks to the Johnstown, NY McDonald's team.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McChronicles Word Cloud

2008-10-06T10:06:00.000-04:00

Wordle offers a cool tool that enables a person to create a word cloud based on a blog. So, The McChronicles went to work. Here is what we look like in a word cloud.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: Screen grab from wordle.

Will McDonald's Adopt Coca Cola's "Beverage Dispeners of the Future"?

2008-09-26T12:10:00.002-04:00

Coca Cola has introduced what some are calling the "beverage dispenser of the future".

According to an article on QSRmagazine.com:

“We believe this will do for beverages what mp3 did for music,” says Ray Crockett, director of communications for Coca-Cola North America.

"Customers can choose their beverages—among more than 100 varieties—via a touch screen located on the front of the machine"

"Second-generation versions of the dispensers will begin testing in the first half of 2009"

Wow! Imagine choosing from a selection of over 100 beverages! No more need to mix Coke & orange.

Will we see these in McDonald's soon? It sure sounds like it. If you spot one in action, check it out and report to us via COMMENT. Thanks!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: QSRmagazine.com

McDonald's Gold Card (Revisited)

2008-09-15T09:31:00.002-04:00

The McChronicles has mused about the McDonald's Gold Card previously. At the time it was called The McDonald's McGold Card. A recent comment on the posting has us reopening the topic.

The McChronicles has to admit that we are intrigued by this item, and that we have no personal experience with it. So, we did what any responsible netizen would do and Googled McDonald's Gold Card. We were quickly delivered to the McD Gold Card home page - there is a complete program!

We attempted to register, only to find that, "Only McDonald's employees are authorized to use this site. " So, it is an employee-only thing.

Apparently the card is a way to help employees get discounts at various retail stores. One page that you CAN access on the site offers a depiction of how the card can save the user over $500. According to the example, the McDonald's Gold Card can be used at places like: Apple, Foot Locker, Jiffy Lube, LensCrafters, T-Mobile, and more.

This seems great for the employees.

The McChronicles wonders if McDonald's has ever considered offering an affinity, discount, membership card for customers to use. We think that this could be kind of cool, if done properly. What do you think?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: McDGoldCard website.

Taipei's Yong An Market Metro Station McDonald's

2008-09-08T09:49:00.004-04:00

Taipei has a pretty good Metro (subway) system. Most times, when you get off a train, there is a McDonald's nearby. The Yong An Metro Station is the perfect example. As you emerge, the McDonald's is right across the street - perfect.

This store is a four-story facility with steep, daunting stairs. The McChronicles expected the top level to be pretty empty (assuming that few would dare to tackle all three sets of stairs). Wrong. Every floor was filled to near capacity.

During our visit, the energy was subdued on all levels. There is little of note to report on this particular store. It covered all the bases fairly well (good order area, good service, etc.) but it could stand to be a bit cleaner.

The McChronicles (sadly) noted the presence of the dreaded straw dispenser. We have railed against this germ bomb in many postings and will take this opportunity to encourage the elimination of this feature again. It is totally disgusting to watch kids touch whatever, then play with the straw dispenser. Yuk!

The McChronicles really enjoys these city McDonald's that offer bird's eye views of the streetscape.

PS: We have noted these cool "i'm lovin' it" uniform shirts and hats throughout the Taipei area.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated wityh, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

Taiwan's Chung Ho City (Sheng Nan Rd.) McDonald's

2008-09-08T06:47:00.005-04:00

The McChronicles dropped in to Taiwan's Chung Ho City (near Taipei) and headed for Sheng Nan Road. That's where this McDonald's is located.

This store is interesting since it combines several funky features all into one restaurant. First, it is a McCafe and a regular store all in one. Next, instead of a drive-thru it offers a walk-up. But it's not an ordinary walk-up, it's sort of a "scooter-up" (you don't actually drive thru in your scooter, you drive up , get off, order, then drive off or eat on the sidewalk). It's a big, urban-type store (small ground floor presence with a multi-(3)story dining area). Add it all up and the experience is pretty cool. Interestingly, this store offers no deivery and no bottled water.

The first-floor order area feels very small and tight. No problem when the crowd is small (it could be a mess if a ton of people show up). The stairs are steep as they lead to the second and third floors. Since the building occupies a corner space there are windows (and tons of natural light) everywhere. This, and the Taipei suburb's teeming masses, make for some extremely interesting people watching while dining.

It's a relief to ascend to the dining area and relax since the street is throbbing with energy. Cars, trucks, scooters, people, smells, sounds, and more add up to almost numb the senses. Behind the glass, and one or more stories above the fray, is a bit of solitude, providing time to unwind and relax - even if it just for a few minutes.

If you're in the neighborhood and in need of a break - consider this option.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's Girl Delivers

2008-09-05T01:19:00.005-04:00

It may be news to some (not to regular readers of The McChronicles) that McDonald's delivers. Maybe not in your town, but there are places in this world where your meal can be brought right to your home, office, party, event, or ... ?

We've explored the concept of McDelivery before. But, today, while sitting in a Shanghai, China McDonald's, after observing several delivery people returning to the roost, grabbing their next order, and heading out into the streets, it hit us. Who are these people? Why do they do it? What's it like McDelivering? Sadly, we didn't get to ask the questions, yet.

The McChronicles did build up a healthy dose of curiosity and interest. We also snapped these shots of "McDonald's Girl" as she prepared to battle the dangerous streets of Shanghai.

As she disappeared into the drizzling summer haze we found ourselves saying out loud, "Go, McDonald's girl, go."

We'll try for an interview and report back if we get one.

Comment if you've got a cool McDelivery or McDonald's Girl story.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's Changning Road, Shanghai, China

2008-09-05T00:34:00.004-04:00

The McDonald's on Shanghai's Changning Road (corner with Dingxi Lu) is interesting to the McChronicles.

Is it huge? No.

Beautiful? No.

Super clean? No

Does it provide awesome service? No.

So, what is it that piques our interest? Surprisingly, it is the total

"averageness" (if there is such a word).

The Changning Road store is a place that hosts international business travelers, tourists, school children, families, and even the occasional gaggle of retired women (the EXACT group that people say will reject McDonald's in China).

Walk in the door and the counter is right in your face. Quick looks right and left reveal the first-floor dining areas. The stairs to the 2nd-floor dining area and rest rooms is immediately to your left.

The seating is typical, the counter area is typical, the floor is the same faux-wood ceramic that is experienced so often worldwide.

This store can get busy, and it can be slow. The McChronicles dropped in at

11:30AM, dodging the noon rush by a bit, and experiencing a crew that had a little breathing room.

We were greeted with smiles, a routine welcome, and proactive help as our meal was selected. We were "processed" as if there were 100 people in line behind us (told to move to the side and wait for our order - The McShuffle), even though we were the only customer - habit we guess.

We chose to sit beside a table of four retired women to see how they enjoyed their McDonald's experience. They seemed to have one mode: everyone talk and laugh at the same time!

OK, so this McDonald's is "average". We had expectations, they were met, we received what we wanted - and it was good. Sometimes it's not so bad being average.

For those interested in McDonald's prices in China, The McChronicles paid 5.5 Chinese RMB (renminbe: the peoples' money) for a hamburger and RMB4.0 for bottled water. Today 1 US dollar is approximately equal to 6.8 RMB.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: The McChronicles.

Suzhou China's Wei Ting McDonald's

2008-09-01T03:23:00.004-04:00

McDonald's rolled into China years ago by landing in the big cities. Eventually, McDonald's was known to exist only in large urban centers. Sensible after all since this is where the people are and the money is.

Fast-forward to today, where we now encounter McDonald's OUTSIDE of major cities. The McChronicles just visited one such restaurant in the townwhip of Wei Ting, outside of Suzhou, in China. Located in the Qing Jian Hu Commercial Plaza, this store caters primarily to people on the go, in cars, on business, or on their way to somewhere else.

Managed by HU Xin Kun, this McDonald's is simply excellent. The exterior is neat and inviting. It has great curb appeal and can be seen easily from the road. Once inside it hits you, this place is really clean (critical for weary travelers and those looking for a relaxing place to grab a quick bite to eat). The atmosphere is quite different from city McDonald's as it is notably quieter and more relaxed. Even the crew have a more dignified demeanor (when compared to the harried city McDonald's staff).

The McChronicles asked some business people who were lunching here to describe this McDonald's and to compare it to other types of McDonald's found in China. The customers quickly categorized this store as "more for business people", "more professional", and "quieter".

This store offers up a spartan, crisp ambiance, complete with tons of windows, natural light, and great views of the area. The seating is ecclectic with benches, stools, chairs, private areas, open tables, and more. You can even surf the internet or check your emails on the three cyber-stations provided free of charge.

The McChronicles shuddered at the sight of the ultra-old-style straw dispenser/germ spreader that is found frequently in China McDonald's. A repeat request: McDonald's, please ban these (for motivation, sit down and watch the straw-dispensing action when a bunch of children show up for a Saturday lunch party).

The Wei Ting McDonald's is a real gem, and highly recommended by The McChronicles. Do check it out.

The McChronicles: a blog about, npot affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's Drive-Thru: First-Time Experience in China

2008-09-01T03:01:00.006-04:00

Remember your very FIRST McDonald's drive-thru moment? Of course you don't ... that is unless it just happened. This exact experience is occurring for thousands of people every day in China.

As reported by The McChronicles, McDonald’s has been opening drive-thrus in China as the population moves up to car ownership.

The McChronicles was fortunate to accompany a college-educated, business professional on her very first drive-thru (McDonald's or otherwise) experience today. We noticed that, as we were leaving a McDonald's dine-in lunch, our friend, let's call her "Daisy", expressed some confusion as to just what the strange driveway was doing in the parking lot. As the "drive-thru" concept was explained it became clear that the idea was totally unknown to her. The more it was explained, the more confused Daisy became. So, we wheeled the vehicle around and drove thru.

Coming from the perspective where this moment is beyond taken for granted, it was exhilarating to "experience" it for the first time through Daisy's eyes.

When we dropped Daisy back at her office and described the experience to her colleagues, most were totally unfamiliar with the concept. More work to do!

PS: It was a thrill and an honor to capture Daisy's first-ever McDonald's drive-thru experience. The McChronicles considers this a very special once-in-a lifetime moment.

PPS: Daisy's first-ever drive-thru order? Orange juice.

Please comment and share YOUR first McDonald's drive-thru experience.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's In The Magic Kingdom

2008-08-25T02:53:00.001-04:00

The McChronicles spent a little time in Disney World last week (Orlando, Florida). While in the area we visited Downtown Disney and the McDonald's there.

We also entered The Magic Kingdom and looked for McDonald's. All we found was the opportunity to buy McD french fries, McNuggets, and McFlurries.

This was a bit disappointing (we were Jonesing for a full McDonald's meal). Additionally, we couldn't help but feel that McDonald's is putting their worst foot forward with some of the most assailable, low-health items. With a collection of much healthier items available it is, of course, possible to offer up some of the good stuff. We're guessing that Disney has a very heavy hand in what McDonald's can, and can't do, in the park.

Image: The McChronicles.
The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Downtown Disney McDonald's

2008-08-25T02:23:00.003-04:00

The McChronicles took a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida last week. While there we dropped by the McDonald's in "Downtown Disney".

For all the traffic the store looked pretty nice. Sure, it could have been a bit neater, but the traffic is pretty wild. We were expecting a more "Disney" theme and were surprised when the store wasn't too specially decorated. That said, it was there when we needed it, and looking pretty good.

Images: The McChronicles.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

A Little Order With My Order

2008-08-25T02:04:00.003-04:00

The McChronicles frequents the Chicago airport and is familiar with many (not all) of the McDonald's there. We have a suggestion that could create a win:win scenario at these locations.

THE ISSUE:
These busy airport McDonald's can have a big line of customers all in need of speedy and accurate service. Since real estate is expensive, the McDonald's have small counters that get clogged with customers, order takers, orders, etc (Image 1: The O'Hare Airport Hall "C" McDonald's on a good day). Once an order is placed, the customer (sometimes) is told that their order number is on the receipt and that we are to listen for our number to be called. We are then left to disapear back into the crowd and await our message. This is the lowest form of the McShuffle. Customers, many of whom speak English as a second language, stand in the crowded, noisy airport terminal, occasionally not knowing what wil lhappen next, listening to McDonald's crew members screaming out numbers. We aren't sure if we heard things correctly, if our number has been called and we missed it, etc. The crew get frustrated when we don't step up and claim our order promptly. There is usually a lot of yelling, confusion, and bad experiences. The McChronicles has even seen a crew member placed into the crowd to help relay the number shouting and to help customers spawn their way back to the counter through a throng of increasingly disgruntled people waiting for THEIR number to be called. What does this all tell you?

THE SUGGESTION:

The crew all look at a flat panel that tells them which orders are in process (Image 2). Why not make a similar (but larger) screen available to the customers? That way we can all watch the screen and track our order. And, the crew can be sure that their announcement is made clearly. This could add some dignity and confidence to the situation - improving the experience for both the customer and the crew.

Images: The McChronicles

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Wall Street (Manhattan) McDonald's

2008-07-25T16:24:00.005-04:00

OK, it's not really on Wall Street, it's on Broad Street, but it's where the Wall Street crowd hangs when they feel the need for a McD hookup.

A FOTM (friend of The McChronicles) - let's refer to him as "code name: Ian" - accepted an assignment and dropped by the financial headquarter's McDonald's this week. Here is his report, accompanied by some photos he captured with his phone, now known as "the McDonald's cam":

From the outside the "Wall Street" (actually Broad Street) McDonald's looks more like a bank or brokerage firm, however, upon entry you realize that it is surely your regular old McDonald's. The urban myth that there are waiters and table service in the "Wall Street" McDonald's is simply not true. The service format is just like every
McDonald's location I have been to.

There are several notable things that distinguish this location from others. First, diners can sit and look out the big front windows and see tourists and commuters streaming off of the Staten Island Ferry. If you're lucky (as I was today) you might catch a concert going on in front of the One New York Building across the street. Another impressive feature of this McDonald's is its large capacity. Although meager when compared to the Times Square (Manhattan) location, the upstairs dinning room has seating for over 200 hundred people.

The one thing I found most impressive is McDonald's unyielding commitment to add a touch of local culture to its restaurants. In true New York fashion, the "Wall Street" McDonald's was crowded, loud, and, instead of service with a smile, you are more likely to get service with scowl and an undistinguishable accent.

Overall I enjoyed my experience, even though there is nothing truly special about this location. I would definitely leave it off a world tour of the coolest McDonald's (the Times Square restaurant would probably be the top priority while in NYC). If you're looking for a place to eat lunch to "get away", or to plain old avoid all the stuffy Wall Street types, this is the place to go. I would even go as far as to say it is the melting pot of the financial district with a more socio-economically diverse crowd than the upscale soup and sandwich places that are ubiquitous in this section of New York City.

Thanks, Ian (code name). Speaking for The McChronicles fans worldwide, we appreciate your insight into this intriguing McDonald's restaurant.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: FOTM "Ian"

HOT McNUGGETS? No Problem For This Mom

2008-07-25T09:23:00.001-04:00

Amanda H. at the SHAMELESSLY SASSY blog is a mom on the go.

She's also a mom with a secret ... she feeds her young daughter the occasional McDonald's McNugget - in the car!

At first this doesn't seem too surprising .. until she reveals how she overcomes the "too hot" McNugget before presenting it to her backseat, strapped-in child. It is a bit surprising to learn that she jams the McNuggets into her car's AC vents!

Most surprising are the numerous comments that cropped up after she made this revealing admission. Wow! There are a lot of like-minded McNugget-cooling people out there. Who would have thought?

Though nearly ALL comments are positive and supportive, at least one person was a little sympathetic to the car.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Image: screen grab from shamelessly sassy blog.

McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew Videos

2008-07-11T12:07:00.001-04:00

The following info was submitted to The McChronicles by Joe Curry, Supervisor, Global Web Communications, Corporate Communications, McDonald's Corporation:
::::::::::::::::

For the Beijing Games, McDonald’s invited the Olympic Champion Crew to create a short video expressing their Olympic spirit in just five words. The top 25 videos have been posted to http://osom.mcdonalds.com and will be displayed online for four weeks leading up to the Olympic Games where the public can vote for their favorites. The winners will be announced in Beijing.

About the Olympic Champion Crew
As the largest employer in the quick service restaurant industry, McDonald’s has a rich history of providing opportunities to the 1.6 million people they employ worldwide. The McDonald’s Olympic Champion Crew program is a unique example of the recognition, reward and opportunities the company provides its employees. For the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, 1,400 of McDonald’s best-of-the-best restaurant employees from 36 countries will travel to Beijing to serve the world’s best athletes and thousands of others at McDonald’s four new Olympic venue restaurants. While in China, the crew will experience the excitement of the Games, visit cultural sites and meet their peers from around the world.
::::::::::::::::

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: screen grab of McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew logo.

Ensenada, Mexico

2008-06-03T16:33:00.002-04:00

The McChronicles enjoyed a week on the Pacific coast in Ensenada, Mexico. While there we encountered a McDonald's with a special feature. This store has a street-side counter that sells ice cream.

In this party town this is an awesome feature. With people walking up and down the main street, stopping by the McDonald's window is just what the doctor ordered - especially on a sultry summer's day ... or night.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Image: The McChronicles

Rosemont, Illinois McDonald's: Always A Delight

2008-05-01T15:20:00.002-04:00

Quoting The McChronicles: Rosemont Rocks!

We said that a while back, after our first visit to this awesome McDonald's. This store has some magic - and every McDonald's should tune in and try to grab some for themselves. Here's the deal:

Walking into the store, it seems like any other - nothing special. Then, you notice the cleanliness - this place is really tidy. Second, you spot the crew - bright, white shirts ... ties ... clean hair ... smiles ... very professional looking. They look you in the eye, they speak politely. They seem happy. Mind you, this is all going on at 9:30 PM on a Tuesday night.

You sit at your table enjoying your meal, and you see that the crew works very well together. They respect each other, they say "please" and "thank you" to each other. They smile and joke. And they work! One young man was taking drive-thru orders on his headset, typing in the orders, AND cleaning the counter. He also delivered the order.

The condiment area (always a McChronicles concern) is super tidy (just like the last visit).

The McChronicles chatted with a young crew member who shared that this store is run by a man named Denny Stabile. We were told that the management inspires the crew to relax and be themselves. Denny obviously shows a lot of respect and appreciation to his team - because that's what shows through to the customer. This young man also shared that he counts all the crew as friends - he makes a point to chat with coworkers on the way into his shift, as well as on the way home when new crew are coming in. Kudos to Denny for teaching this team these great skills, and for enabling them to share them with the customers.

The McChronicles would like to say a huge THANKS to the owners, managers, and crew of the Rosemont McDonald's. They set the bar very high - and show us how a McDonald's experience should play out.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: The McChronicles.

Chicago O'Hare Airport McDonald's: Terminal H

2008-05-01T15:15:00.000-04:00

The McChronicles usually flies UNITED through Chicago. This time it was decided to take American Airlines - the result was a visit to TERMINAL "H" and a new McDonald's experience.

This McDonald's is in a delightful food court - very bright and well decorated. There are plenty of places to eat and it is quite clean.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Images: The McChronicles.

RIP Herb Peterson

2008-03-27T12:58:00.002-04:00

Who hasn't enjoyed an Egg McMuffin?

Well, sadly, the inventor of that delightful creation has passed. Herb Peterson introduced breakfast to the fast food industry - and was well-known as a person who truly loved McDonald's.

According to an article in the International Herald Tribune:

The Egg McMuffin made its debut at a restaurant in Santa Barbara that Peterson
co-owned with his son, David Peterson.

Rest in pease, Herb.

The McChronicles:a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: SouthernLedger.com

Branding The Beach

2008-03-24T20:41:00.000-04:00

Look at the top image. Wow! What a crowded beach. It is reported to be Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea. Note the red umbrellas. Notice anything special?

Now take a peek at the bottom two images. Wow!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: floristone.com

Feng Shui? Of Course!

2008-03-24T20:30:00.000-04:00

"The makeover is part of the attempt by Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's Corp. in recent years to remodel hundreds of its restaurants to attract more patrons with unique decor and amenities that might entice them stay awhile."

The "makeover"? Yes, the makeover to a more feng shui-pleasing environment in some McDonald's.

Here's another telling quote from examiner.com:

"It's successful as a design. It's got a very clean, open, airy appearance," said Elaine Bjorklund, a professor emerita of cultural geography at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, who was in town visiting a friend.

"I'm not a McDonald's habituee," she added as she snapped pictures of the dining area. "It would be interesting to see if this trend will spread."

A customer was moved to take pictures of the dining room! Awesome! The McChronicles sure would like to dine in THAT store.

Does anyone have pictures of the Hacienda Heights, California McDonald's to share?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: hopeful!

Las Vegas McDonald's Disappoint

2008-03-24T19:56:00.000-04:00

The McChronicles recently reported on a non-impressive McDonald's.

We returned to check out a few more McDonald's and were equally disappointed. It seems that there is not ONE Vegas-themed McDonald's in the city.

But, there is promise. There is one McDonald's on the strip that promises both a NEW SIGN as well as a NEW STORE!

The McChronicles hopes that the new store reflects the glitz and glamor of Las Vegas.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles.

McDonald's Saturation

2008-02-18T09:03:00.001-05:00

Right off the bat, The McChronicles would like to say that we have NEVER felt "saturated" by McDonald's, we never get too much. So the title of this posting's topic seems a wee bit off.

The McChronicles was tipped off to an interesting website that claims to provide information on the density of McDonald's in any US region. It is from Foodio54.com.

Apparently drawing data from a corporate location database, the site purports to tell us data regarding stores per X miles radius for:

national average

state average

specific location entered

The site also reports your state's highest and lowest McDonald's densities by listing a few cities. In the McChronicles' home state of New York, we learned that (according to this site), the highest McDonald's density is in New York City 10017) with a density of 1 McDonald's for every 5,400 people. A McDonald's for every 0.11 square mile!

And, we also learned that the Adirondack region sees very little of the golden arches, especially in the west-central area. Inlet, NY's McDonald's/square mile was incalcuable! The McChronicles recently reported of the demise of the Old Forge, NY McDonald's.

Have some fun with this tool.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Image: Foodio54.com screen grab.

McDonald's Pioneer: Gene Widdicombe

2008-02-11T19:33:00.000-05:00

She ..."with the help of her children, has become a local McDonald's pioneer. She's the first woman in Orange County to operate a McDonald's. In 1974, the single, mother of three opened her second McDonald's in Garden Grove."
"Her restaurants were the first in Orange County to introduce a drive-through (1977) and a PlayPlace (1983) kids zone."
"Today, five of the more than 30,000 McDonald's operating in the world belong to Gene Widdicombe."

Nancy Luna, OC Register

Wow! Can you imagine meeting Ray Kroc? Having him fly out to meet YOU? Opening a McDonald's when no one had heard of McDonald's???

The McChronicles has visited Gene Widdicombe's first McDonald's, at 12542 Harbor Boulevard, in Orange County, California, but never knew the significance, until now.

Read the Gene Widdicombe story in the OC Register. We were riveted by the "as it happened" style - great stories!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Big Mac: Inside THe McDonald's Empire (repeat)

2008-01-27T21:25:00.001-05:00

CNBC (American channel) is running this old show again. The McChronicles posted about it when we first saw it this summer.

We would like to repeat this sentiment:

It bothers us that most anti-McDonald's people point out that certain McDonald's items aren't high-quality foods while:

ignoring the fact that some McDonald's offerings are, in fact, excellent choices
failing to mention that EVERY mainstream grocery store also offers items which are not high-quality foods

We all know that the critics are blind to these issues since it does little to suit their purposes or gain them their 15 minutes of fame.

Be sure to check out the show's special detailed website which offers:

program highlights
a video gallery
background on the show host

We would love to know what you thought of the CNBC McDonald's special report. Please comment.

The McChronicles couldn't find a show replay schedule on the CNBC website.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: CNBC website

McChronicles Interview

2008-01-12T23:29:00.000-05:00

SoCal's FAST FOOD MAVEN interviewed The McChronicles, to share our top 5 McDonald's wishes for 2008 with their Anaheim, California readers.

As you may know, we really savor the total McDonald's experience, so our answers just may surprise you a bit.

Read The McChronicles interview.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: Fast Food Maven website.

McDonald's: Perfect Time To REEBOK Burger King

2008-01-09T20:25:00.000-05:00

Nike Shox RULED the athletic shoe (sneaker, trainer) world.

Somewhere, off in the distance, Reebok and their man, Terry Tate, were busy selling their shoes.

Nike did it again, another awesome commercial, featuring a streaker at a football (soccer) match. The ad was simply fantastic, mesmerising. Some said it was unbeatable.

In one week, Reebok answered with one of the most memorable ads ever. Terry Tate REEBOKED Nike. AWESOME!

Fast forward to today's Burger King Whopper Freakout. The McChronicles must admit, it is an awesome concept and ad. Here is the 7-minute Whopper Freakout backstory. Here is the 30-second Whopper Freakout commercial.

With tons of time to react, and with the Super Bowl looming, it is the perfect situation for McDonald's to "REEBOK" Burger King.

Come on McDonald's! Do it for your fans.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Most Unique McDonald's In The World

2008-01-08T20:02:00.000-05:00

The Travel Channel (USA) is running a show about the Top 10 Most Unique McDonald's in the world.

Peter Holden, billed as the Number One McDonald's Fan, leads the viewer on a tour. He claims to have visited nearly 12,000 McDonald's!

During the show we learned:

there are >30,000 McDonald's operating worldwide.
the oldest operating McDonald's is in Downey California, USA.
there is a McDonald's PlayPlace in Dallas, Texas, USA that is designed to look like a Happy Meal. The show declares this to be the happiest McDonald's in the world.
there is a diner in the Lafayette, Indiana, USA McDonald's. It has over 120 menu items not offered at any other McDonald's. Sounds interesting but gimmicky.
Peter Holden has NOT yet been to the Arctic Circle McDonald's in Pitea, Sweden. Customers there hit the drive-thru on snowmobiles!
Montreal, Canada is the home of the world's most unique McDonald's Cafe. There's a regular McD next door if the gourmet latte isn't enough!
a two-storey McDonald's in Orlando, Florida, USA houses a mega-PlayPlace which hosts over 750 birthday parties per year. Pizza is available. Upstairs offers an arcade and a huge maze.
The Roma, Italy McDonald's sits in the center of this great city. It is the most opulent McDonald's in the show - and maybe the world. This store has >800 seats! Their Big Macs are reportedly the most expensive in the world.

The McChronicles loved seeing some of the restaurants we have visited, especially the Times Square (New York City) store which, reportedly, has the largest McDonald's kitchen in the world. We also were quite interested in the stores that we have yet to enjoy.

The show will run through February 2008. Here is the schedule of next showings.
Check it out if you can.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: Travel Channel logo from discovery.com.

Flying Fry Ad

2008-01-03T12:48:00.000-05:00

McDonald's has released a new ad, called Flying Fry, in specific US markets, aimed at Hispanic youth, "Lateens".

According to an email from Tremor Media:

"The campaign, which debuted Jan. 1 in 16 markets across the U.S., also includes
radio and rich media banner ads. "

The McChronicles' first reaction to the ad was that it doesn't seem to have any particular "Lateen" uniqueness to it (admittedly, The McChronicles is pretty clueless on the topic, so the signals may have been missed). We then settled with thinking, "Kind of cool". But, slowly, we got the feeling we'd seen it all before. Then it hit us, "Showdown" from 1993. This ad reminds us strongly of Michael Jordan and Larry Bird making their wild cross-town shots with a basketball. Replace our stars with two kids, the ball with a french fry, the hoop with a mouth, ... and you are an advertising genius, we guess. Hey, maybe one of these kids will parlay this into a Hanes underwear ad contract!

Deeper reaction:

The MAIN thing McDonald's gets grilled for is health issues. The PRIME offender is the french fry (still not removed the trans fats???).
The product they're advertising? French Fries!!! And they're targeting an audience who is struggling with reducing fat in their diet!!!

Who thought this was a better idea than an ad featuring how buying a salad at McDonald's helps the local Ronald McDonald House?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: Screen grab from MediaPost.

McBaby!

2007-12-31T16:55:00.000-05:00

Thanks to The Fast Food Maven for making The McChronicles aware of this interesting story.

According to a report from CBS News:

"A baby was born in a Washington state McDonald's restroom and the mother didn't know she was pregnant."

The story goes on to reveal that the mother :

"... was working the night shift and ... suddenly ran into the restroom feeling ill."

Wow!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: screen grab from CBS news story.

McSkillet Burritos: evaluated

2007-12-03T18:26:00.000-05:00

The McChronicles mused about the new McSkillet Burrito. Then, Michael Schroeder gave us the 411 on how good they are. Moved to action, The McChronicles travelled to Sarasota, Florida to sample this promising breakfast fare.

But first, the Sarasota McDonald's:

Store #: 5983
Address: 787 S. Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL, 34239
Owner/Operator: Bob & Joan Davies
Store Manager: Heidi Martino
Time: 7:54AM

Pulling into the parking lot it was fun to see the store's windows being washed. The grounds were tidy and bright.

Walking in revealed a very typical, nothing special layout. The dining room has an old car theme, with a few basic pictures on the walls. Nothing special.

The Sandwich:
When asked about the popularity of the McSkillet Burrito, the counter person was unable or unwilling to converse in English. She turned the situation over to a manager. The manager confirmed that the breakfast sandwich is, indeed both very tasty and very popular.

The McChronicles ordered both an Egg McMuffin (control) and the McSkillet Burrito (experiment).

Bottom line, compared to the old standard (Egg McMuffin), the McSkillet Burrito is flavorful, exciting, tasty, moist, and very hearty.

A caloric or nutritional comparison was not made. Info anyone?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles. Why not a picture of the McSkillet Burrito? The McChronicles ate it before the shot could be captured!

McSkillet Burrito

2007-12-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

The McChronicles was enjoying a "welcome home" lunch at McDonald's with a friend and noticed the ad (on the cup) for the new McSkillet Burrito.

We have not, yet, had the pleasure of trying this sandwich. Any opinions to share out there?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles.

Voice of McDonald's Competition

2007-11-27T17:09:00.000-05:00

McDonald's is doing something kind of cool - and you can get involved.

Many countries/regions are now enjoying a TV show that pits wannabe pop stars against each other. Judges criticize, viewers vote - ahh, the drama! McDonald's has taken all that is good about this scenario and is staging a talent contest online. Introducing the Voice of McDonald's Global Singing Contest.

According to the website, the competition is for crew and managers from around the globe.

The McChronicles voted (actually "ranked") every one of the 35 contestants who are in the finals. They were down-selected from over 3,600 McDonald's crew and managers from 53 countries. Awesome!

According to a McDonald's press release:

The top ten after online voting will become global finalists and each will
win a trip with a guest to McDonald’s 2008 Worldwide Convention in Orlando, FL, April 14-17, to compete for top honors.

Cast your vote and have a say in the outcome by going to http://www.mcdonalds.com/voiceyourchoice.html, checking out the videos, and listening to the talent.

The McChronicles certainly has a strong opinion on two fantastic talents. Want a clue? Match the images posted here with the videos online (or just read the names in the images).

Great fun! Very talented McDonald's people.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with McDonald's.
Images: screen grabs from http://www.mcdonalds.com/voiceyourchoice.html

A McDonald's Thanksgiving

2007-11-26T10:50:00.000-05:00

Americans LOVE Thanksgiving. They bring the whole family together and gorge themselves on the traditional faire of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and more. At least most of them do.

Then there is the group that dine at McDonald's for Thanksgiving.

According to McDonald's -> Management Blog, a large group of people take their holiday meal at McDonald's. In their post, titled "Gobble, Gobble" they express their surprise with the amount of business they had last week - on Thanksgiving. Here are a couple of quotes:

It's incredibly surprising how busy McDonald's is on Thanksgiving. It surprised everyone, including the owner and the store manager, who cut hours down to literally nothing. Then, during breakfast from 8 all the way to 10:30 breakfast cut-off, when we were really busy, and short-staffed, it surprised our
customers, as well.

Lunch was like a normal mid-week lunch. This surprised me more than anything.
Breakfast I understand. You're cooking up a storm for dinner, who wants to cook
a breakfast too? But lunch? At 1:30 PM?

Let The McChronicles know - did you dine, have you ever dined, at McDonald's on Thanksgiving?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: MasterPiecePumpkins website.

Europe's Most Visited and LARGEST McDonald's

2007-11-21T09:11:00.000-05:00

According to this web page (http://www.munichx.de/essen/mcdonalds.php) this McDonald's is Europe's largest and most visited McDonald's.

Located in Munich (Zentrum) this restaurant boasts 3 stories.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: a friend of The McChronicles (thanks Anita!).

Germany's OLDEST McDonald's?

2007-11-21T09:01:00.000-05:00

A friend of The McChronicles just visited Munich and files this report.

I believe this is Germany's oldest McDonald's. It is located on
Tegernseerland Str., Munich. I used to hang out here, smoke cigarettes, and drink Loewenbraeu bier inside. Pretty cool place.

Does anyone know if this really IS Germany's oldest McDonald's?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: a friend of The McChronicles (thanks Alen).

Vegas, baby!

2007-11-17T23:20:00.000-05:00

The glitz, the glamor, the disappointment.

The McChronicles was walking the Las Vegas strip last week - taking in all the opulence. Suddenly, amongst the Ferrari dealership, the waterfalls, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Eiffel Tower was this scuzzy little strip mall. And, shoehorned between FATBURGER and a tour agency, was a McDonald's.

The McChronicles has long expressed its supreme satisfaction with "theme McDonald's" - stores that adopt a local (or other) design theme. They evoke a oneness with their locale and gain energy from the synergy. When visiting a location with a strong theme (like San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury) or ... say ... Las Vegas, we HOPE for a McDonald's with a really cool local theme. Alas, it was not to be.

This McDonald's looked so generic that, upon walking in, the disappointment caused a loss of appetite. Later that afternoon, upon finding a second McDonald's on the Las Vegas strip, The McChronicles couldn't muster the enthusiasm to even check it out.

A little creative energy would have been greatly appreciated.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

World's 2nd-Busiest McDonald's

2007-10-31T19:53:00.000-04:00

Khamzat Khasbulatov's Pushkin Square, Moscow, McDonald's (the 2nd-busiest in the world) seats about 900 people at one time, and he still can't handle the crowds!

According to a recent Wall Street Jou rnal article, "On average, each (Russian) location serves about 850,000 diners annually -- more than twice the store traffic in McDonald's other markets."

Mr. Khasbulatov jokingly complains about having too many customers. He qualifies that by saying, "When I said I have too many customers, it's a nice problem to have. I would love to continue to have this problem."

Check out the Wall Street Journal video on this intriguing situation.

From the customer point of view, this must be a problem. The article goes on to state:

As for the persistent crowds, many customers remain indifferent. "Our country's a country of lines," says Andrey Shatskiy, a 40-year-old soap-opera cinematographer, while eating lunch at the Pushkin Square restaurant. "We all got used to it."

Walt Riker, McDonald's Vice President, Corporate Media Relations shared these photos of a trip he made to Moscow this past summer - depicting the throngs of customers crowding a different McDonald's. Thanks, Walt!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Video: Brightcove
Images: Walt Riker, McDonald's.

Specialty Coffee & Premium Beverages at McDonald's

2007-10-31T19:31:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month McDonald's announced that they will add specialty coffee and other premium beverages to the menus at its more than 14,000 U.S. locations in 2008.

Has anyone seen this start happening yet?

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: Four Sizes of Coffee in Moscow McDonald's: Walt Riker, McDonald's Vice President, Corporate Media Relations

FREE is Good

2007-09-02T12:10:00.000-04:00

This arrived in today's newspaper. Can't wait!

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's STAR Manager Interview

2007-09-02T11:40:00.000-04:00

The McChronicles was fortunate to stumble upon a real STAR recently. We briefly enjoyed the company of Yanna Deng, McDonald's Changan Branch STAR.

We don't know what "STAR" actually stands for, but it HAS to be good. Why? Because Yanna is. The Changan McDonald's (in Shenzhen, China's Futian district) is a true "neighborhood" restaurant. Nestled amongst small shops, and at the foot of housing blocks, the store serves students, families, and the neighborhood locals.

We managed to slow Yanna down for a few seconds to ask her about her job, and her role in this store. Here is what she had to say (the interview was translated between English and Mandarin. Any translational errors are purely the fault of The McChronicles):

The McChronicles: What is the role of a McDonald's STAR?
Ms. Deng: We organize social activities, events held at our restaurants. We especially focus on childrens activities.

The McChronicles: How long have you been here?
Ms. Deng: I have worked at this store for 2 years and have been with McDonald's for over 7 years. Many employees at this store have been with the company for a long time.

The McChronicles: Describe McDonald's MOM'S PROGRAM.
Ms. Deng: We have special "Happy Family Ambassadors" who emphasize a good experience for families while in our restaurant. The specially-selected employees must truly enjoy children and have a great sense of customer service.

The McChronicles: How is McDonald's keeping abreast of the huge changes occurring in China?
Ms. Deng: One big effort, and success, is keeping up with inflation. Even with this pressure, we have managed to keep our prices steady.

The McChronicles: What is exciting at this store?
Ms. Deng: Our new manager really emphasizes QSC (quality, service, cleanliness). Their focus has really improved our store tremendously.

The McChronicles: What is your favorite part of working at McDonald's?
Ms. Deng: I enjoy the collegial atmosphere, the happy environment, and the great team with which I work.

The McChronicles notes that this store was very clean and efficient. It was a pleasure to eat at this McDonald's. Thank you Yanna, and your entire team.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

Temporary McDonald's

2007-09-02T11:28:00.000-04:00

The McChronicles has experienced this before. Still, we marvel at it, and want to report on it again.

What is it? It is a temporary, pop-up McDonald's. A small McDonald's is set up in a special tent, wherever needed.

In this case, the restaurant served thousands of conventioners in Shenzhen, China. When bringing people together from all parts of the world, it is important to satisfy everyone's basic human needs (enjoying a satisfying meal is one of them). This exhibition offered a pop-up Pizza Hut, a pop-up Chinese food choice, and a McDonald's. The McDonald's clearly had the longest lines of all the options.

The menu is very limited (chicken sandwich, sausage sandwich, Big Mac) with canned soda. When faced with the option of these limitations versus NO McDonald's, we'll gladly take this option.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's Pineapple Pie

2007-09-02T11:24:00.000-04:00

A cautious McChronicles tentatively bit into the piping hot dessert for a first taste of McDonald's Pineapple Pie.

The verdict? Awesome! Very sweet and flavorful. An excellent comfort food.

This great treat was found in Shenzhen, China.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles (pie is missing - we gobbled it up too soon).

What You See: What You Get

2007-09-02T11:17:00.000-04:00

The McChronicles enjoyed the (much) larger than life glowing sidewalk billboard depicting the awesomeness of the McDonald's Big Mac while walking along a Shanghai street last week.

After being duly influenced by the huge advertisement we decided to drop into the closest McDonald's to see if the sandwich could live up to the hype. Depicted here is what we saw, and what we were served.

The sandwich was served up in sloppy fashion, with ingredients hanging out every which way. The pickle was barely along for the ride.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

China Olympics Countdown in McDonald's

2007-09-02T11:10:00.000-04:00

The McChronicles snapped this image a couple of days ago. It depicts a countdown (days to go) to the Summer Olympics in China.

The sign sits right at the entrance to a Shanghai McDonald's.

There is so much fervor building up in China for these games. The McChronicles wonders if the country will sustain the energy or if they will have an emotional melt down. We'll soon see.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles.

Coca-Cola China Olympics Torch Promo: McDonald's Tray Liners

2007-09-02T10:31:00.000-04:00

Olympics Fever is really heating up in China. The McChronicles wonders how the country will manage to keep a lid on the excitement for another year.

Coca-Cola is staging a very special event for the upcoming summer games. They are asking customers to vote for one of three favorite Chinese sports stars. The winner will carry the Olympic torch into the stadium and light the main torch.

The choices are:

Yao Ming (basketball) NBA fame
Liu Xiang (hurdles) hot off a big win in Osaka two days ago
Guo JingJing (diving) sexy sports star

You'll find this promotional piece on your tray should you dine at a Chinese McDonald's in the near future.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles.

McDonald's Uniform: Pants

2007-09-02T10:22:00.000-04:00

The McChronicles has noted that McDonald's workers seem to be required to wear corporate shirts and hats, along with some non-descript, non-corporate-issue pants.

The McChronicles has noted (reminded on a visit last week) that Chinese McDonald's staff wear corporate McDonald's pants.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles.

Egg McMuffin: China Style

2007-09-02T10:15:00.000-04:00

The McChronicles went on a breakfast jag last week and started consuming Egg McMuffins nearly every day.

The cool thing was that all the meals were consumed in China - Shanghai to be exact.

Disregarding the localized wrapping, the food looked and tasted exactly like that in any other McDonald's in which we've eaten.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles.

McDonald's Angus Third Pounder

2007-08-22T23:23:00.000-04:00

Well, the name certainly doesn't roll off the tongue, now does it? But the concept is intriguing. The McChronicles just read this on the QSR Magazine website:

"McDonald's customers have shown strong support for the new Angus Third Pounders that debuted in Southern California last March. Positive customer feedback has prompted McDonald's marketing co-ops in New York and Central Ohio to introduce the newest line of hamburgers to its customers. "

"Angus Third Pounders are made with 100-percent USDA-inspected Angus Beef, with red onions, sauteed mushrooms, iceberg lettuce and sliced red tomatoes, served on a bakery-style sesame seed roll. The hamburgers come in three varieties: Angus Deluxe, Angus Mushroom and Swiss, and Angus Bacon and Cheese, for a suggested retail price of $3.99 each."

If you have had any experience with this new product, comment and share your thoughts.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.

Image: svt.967 website

McDonald's Moon Man Rises (again)

2007-08-21T23:15:00.000-04:00

McDonald's Moon Man spearheaded the company's "Mac Tonight" promtional campaign years ago in the USA when they were introducing the concept of late- and all-night McDonald's service.

Fast forward to today, and to China, where Moon Man has been called up for more duty.

There are ads on TV, on the video screens in-store, on the doors, and even on flyers. Here's one such flyer that depicts 30 of the many stores here in Shanhgai that offer 24-hour service. This makes tons of sense as this city seems to never sleep.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Images: The McChronicles.

McDonald's Personalized Word of Mouth Project

2007-08-21T03:26:00.000-04:00

According to information The McChronicles recently received from the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association:

McDonald's is currently working with Oddcast to create an avatar-based viral email campaign. At www.MySnackTime.com, users enter basic information about a friend or co-worker who they want to tell about the Chipotle BBQ snack wrap.
This generates an email, which leads recipients to a personalized,
snack-wrap-evangelizing avatar that knows just a little too much about them.
According to Oddcast, people who receive emails from friends are 60-65% more
likely to open them and are 30-35% more likely to pass the email along to yet
another person, making this effort one that is full of viral potential.Learn
more:http://www.womma.org/womnibus/010133.php

Sounds like fun. The McChronicles just fired off a customized message to a buddy in Singapore. Can't wait for the reaction. We plan to try it out on a few other unsuspecting friends and see what happens. Let us know about your experience with this.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: McDonald's Oddcast website.

McDonald's: In-Store Hygiene

2007-08-19T23:32:00.000-04:00

Here is an example of a long-outdated practice that is (sadly) still in effect today in some locations.

The McChronicles dropped into a McDonald's in Shanghai, China yesterday and saw something that it has reported on before. We remain dismayed to see unprotected (no paper wrapper) straws being dispensed from a box.

While waiting for our order, The McChronicles observed customers dispensing bare straws, getting too many, rolling them out onto the counter, putting some back, etc. We pity the next customer in line.

The McChronicles hopes that McDonald's can invest in hygiene and institute wrapped straws throughout China.

The McChronicles: a blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's.
Image: The McChronicles.