business

McDonald’s global sales drop in February

16 Comments
By CANDICE CHOI

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So, making people wait in line for the "Build your own hamburger" terminal which will slow down ordering, make people grumpy waiting for slow people and make ordering more complicated, will save McDonalds? Sounds as ridiculous as wanting to go to McDonalds to be touched by strangers. Actually, maybe I wouldn't want to be around the people who find it exciting to touch strangers at McDonalds.

Panera in the US is booming. They don't touch customers and you don't stand in line waiting for a turn on the build your own sandwich computer terminal. Could it be, perhaps, that they offer much healthier food?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Great News! The sooner McDonald's wake up to themselves and start selling healthy type food OR close down by not doing so the better!

Their current chemical & fat laden ingredients has a huge cost to nations health bills, and their arrogant use of palm oil is wiping out environments.

P.S. Please also be reminded that McDonald's ONLY makes their money from real estate - not from food. They are one of largest real estate holders in the world....

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Actually, Japan would be an excellent test ground for the "Build Your Own Burger" idea. Japan McDonald's all have implemented the "kazasu coopon" swipe-pad tech that is linked with its McDonald's coupon app. Users can choose the discounted menu item they want beforehand, then simply pass their cell phone with the relevant data stored over the pad/reader in front of the register at the front counter. It takes seconds and is infinitely faster than ordering traditionally.

Expanding the capabilities of the app would not require all that much tinkering, I would think, and customers could decide what kind of burger they like beforehand and at their leisure, then go the counter and simply swipe their cell phone when they were ready to order.

Would this tech be usable in other markets? It depends. Look at how long Western communications companies and cell phone makers have taken to catch up with Japan’s already well-established electronic wallet feature available across multiple domestic carrier platforms. Everyone is ballyhooing Apple’s tentative first steps into the world of pay-with-your-cell-phone, but Japan’s been at it, and quite successfully, for more than a decade.

Regardless, the core issue is the healthiness, or rather, perceived healthiness of other competitor’s offerings versus an entrenched McDonald’s product quality that, quite honestly, is no longer up to snuff in a market that has (marginally) healthier alternatives.

First, Mickey D’s needs to come up with a different meat patty. The one they use now is so utterly unappetizing and bland that it can scarcely be associated with the animal it is purported to come from. The fries are and will likely always be the best, and Mickey D’s has taken great strides to eliminate the use of trans-fats in their preparation across most markets. But a fast food empire cannot survive on fries alone.

Fresh veggies would make a world of difference, including tomato slices, actual onion slices instead of the reconstituted diced stuff they use now. Also, doing something -- anything -- to correct the monotony that is their entire processed chicken product line. Honestly, take away the sauces, dressings, and bun, and the chicken filet is simply the big brother of the already lambasted smaller McNugget.

The elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about, however, is that if McDonald’s were to implement these healthier changes, then prices would inevitably have to go up. There’s no way around it. Furthermore, the competitors who profess to have healthier options may indeed provide just that, but for how long? If they became as successful and monolithic as McDonald’s, would they still be able to provide fresh, healthy food at prices that kept them in within a competitive range of McDonald’s already rock-bottom prices?

Case in point: Japan's homegrown MOS Burger chain. In the 90s and early 2000s, their prices were comparable with McDonald's. Their schtick was, and contiues to be, "We're fresher." And they are. But a single full meal at MOS will easily set a consumer back 1200 yen. The freshness of MOS means an expensive MOS. And to accomodate these expenses, MOS in 2003~4 even downgraded their formerly wonderful burger beef patty to something a lot closer to Mickey D's overly processed patty than most people are willing to admit.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

With increased awareness of the slop that goes to make McDonald's products, it's no wonder they're losing their appeal. All that's left is, "Hey, we're relatively cheap and occasionally even fast!" but that doesn't do much to recommend their restaurants when there are so many tastier alternatives. We find we don't mind paying a few hundred yen more for food that's plastic and tooth free.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

People are willing to pay more for better food. Offer better food even if it means increasing prices.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

There's a sense that the world's moved on beyond McDonalds---plus there are the recent issues of quality and sourcing.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Simply put, fast food also known as junk food sales will continue to decline because of the growing health conscious population. Consumers are beginning to become more enlightened about the dangers of high cholesterol, hypertension, heart attacks, obesity and diabetes. In other words wise consumers value health so avoid fast food restaurants. They see the connection between healthy eating and the benefit to general health, wellness, disease prevention and longevity.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Simply put, fast food also known as junk food sales will continue to decline because of the growing health conscious population.

True, yet some of the fastest-growing restaurants right now are fast food. Look at Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Shake Shack (coming to Tokyo in 2016). Better burgers are in high demand.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The move to better quality and healthier food has been on the cards for some time now. Welcome to Japan, Taco Bell.....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I think McDonald's Japan need to look at how MOS Burger and Lotteria do things in Japan and learn how to make better hamburgers. That's something that could even help McDonald's in other parts of the world in the longer run.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

a single full meal at MOS will easily set a consumer back 1200 yen

No. A "mos burger" with a large size french fries and drink set will cost a total of 750 yen.

3 ( +4 / -2 )

To all the folks going on about the health side of things I`m not so sure ebifry, ramen, katsu, and all the other oily, salty and fried food common in Jland are any better.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

No. A "mos burger" with a large size french fries and drink set will cost a total of 750 yen.

I didn't type "potato/drink set." I typed "full meal," which, including a salad or soup and a desert, will easily surpass 1200 yen. Easily. The same meal would cost less than 1000 yen at McDonald's. Arguably of lower quality, yes, but still less. After all, that's Mickey D's schick: Cheaper.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The same meal would cost less than 1000 yen at McDonald's

No. Sets at McD's are 650 - 750 yen. Add a 300 yen dessert and a 300 yen salad and you are well over 1000 yen.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Mc D sales have dropped, so what. Their burgers aren't great anyways. Japan needs a Tommy's Burger, In-n-Out, Carl's Jr . . . And so on. It cracks me up how the average Japanese has absolutely no idea whatsoevere what a tasty burger is. MOS & Lotteria dont' even qualify to be included in this debate.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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