Optimedia’s Antony Young Compares Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s We know the recession is hurting purchases of big-ticket items such as cars and flat-screen TVs, but even life’s seemingly small luxuries, such as that morning latte, are being hit hard. Indeed, an Advertising Age study found that 60% of Americans have scaled back from premium coffees…
Read More »Same-Store Sales up 5%; Details Marketing Spending Behind National Coffee Bar Rollout Despite commodity cost pressures, price-sensitive consumers and soaring unemployment, McDonald’s reported impressive fourth-quarter and full-year earnings this morning. The Oak Brook, Ill.-based burger chain reported same-store sales were up 5% in the U.S. during the fourth quarter, and up 4% for the year.…
Read More »McDonald’s Corp quarterly profits beat Wall Street estimates but growth in some overseas markets slowed, reports Reuters. Q4 net income decreased 23%, to $985.3 million, or $0.87 per share, from $1.27 billion, or $1.06 per share, a year earlier, when results included a large tax-related benefit, McDonald’s reported. Analysts had been expecting profit of $0.83…
Read More »With the latte giant reeling from overexpansion and a softening economy, the doughnut maker took aim at its upscale rival. Now McDonald’s has joined the coffee fray as well. Can Starbucks pull through? By Joseph V. Tirella, MSN Money In late 2007, Dunkin’ Donuts made a surprising announcement: In a national taste test in 10…
Read More »Coffeeshop giant Starbucks has announced it will cut around 6,700 jobs and shut 300 stores as it reported a 69% plunge in quarterly profit. Starbucks has struggled as hard-up consumers forego expensive lattes and frappucinos as the recession bites. It said it made a net profit of $64.3m in the 13 weeks to December 28,…
Read More »“Card-check” would make it easier for unions to organize, but critics say it is undemocratic. John Almaier, a dealer and supervisor at Bally’s in Atlantic City, and his colleagues thought they were following procedure when they voted in June 2007 to join the United Auto Workers union. They contacted the UAW to represent them. The…
Read More »Barack Obama is into coffee… literally. Krispy Kreme in Britain cashed in on the inaugural fervor by offering coffee with the likeness of our President in the coffee foam. Check out this clever franchise promotion:
Read More »Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. said Tuesday that turnaround plans for Wendy’s include the delay of a systemwide breakfast introduction until 2011, as the chain retools its offerings with product tests in just three markets. Speaking at the seventh annual Cowen & Co. consumer investment conference in New York, company chief executive Roland Smith said Wendy’s missed…
Read More »Jan. 16, 23, 31 and Feb. 7, from 7AM to 7PM, a small hot McCafé or Newman’s Own Organics Coffee is on the house for McDonald’s customers. Participating McDonald’s restaurants throughout Maine and eastern New Hampshire will be offering customers the opportunity to try a free small hot McCafé beverage on Jan. 16, 23, and…
Read More »As of November, the latest data available, the company had delivered 55 consecutive months of increases in global same-store sales. During a year when the stock market lost a third of its value – its worst performance since the Great Depression – shares of McDonald’s gained nearly 6 percent, making the company one of only…
Read More »