Around the Net

Consultant Says Big Mac Wants To Be Like Starbucks

A restaurant consultant who says he's seen an internal McDonald's memo claims that headquarters is encouraging franchisees to remodel their establishments by sweetening the financial pot when their contract is up, Kathy Bergen reports. The goal, he indicates, is to create a Starbucks-like experience where people will feel comfortable lingering and, of course, spending.

Franchise consultant Richard Adams says a new pilot program offers a higher level of corporate financial assistance to franchisees than before, and that the company hopes an additional 400 to 600 restaurants will remodel over the normal annual rate of 300 to 400.

McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud says remodeling efforts are part of "an evolution of the restaurant redesign that started back in 2003" and refuses to confirm or deny the existence of any memo. "It's an effort to contemporize existing restaurant locations," she says. Amenities include plasma-screen televisions, lounge chairs and electric fireplaces in the remodeled restaurants, as well as free Wi-Fi in most U.S. locations.

advertisement

advertisement

Read the whole story at Chicago Tribune »

Next story loading loading..