McDonald's Foods example essay topic

Mc Donald's Products and Services. McDonalds is the world's leading food service retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants in 118 countries serving 46 million customers each day. McDonalds is one of the world's most well-known and valuable brands and holds a leading share in the globally branded quick service restaurant segment of the informal eating-out market in virtually every country in which they do business. Serves the world some of its favorite foods - World Famous French Fries, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken Mc Nuggets and Egg Mc Muffin. As a result of many changes in the habits of Americans, competition and other factors such as the economy and profit loss, McDonalds attempts to continue new innovations and services. These attempts are in hope of maintaining old customers, attracting new customers and ultimately increasing revenue and profit.

Obviously, McDonalds is the leading producer of hamburgers and French fries. Also, there is no secret that McDonalds sells chicken sandwiches-both fried and grilled, fish sandwiches and the most popular drinks to complement the meals such as Coca Cola, Pepsi and HiC. Yet, as the economy continues to slump and Americans become more aware of the dangers and unhealthiness of fast food, McDonald's has been forced to make new additions and adjustments to their products and services. New products and services from McDonald's include The Dollar Menu, New Premium Salads, Another "peel off" game titled Winning Time, and "Nick Nack" for kids' Happy Meals. The Dollar Menu features some of the favorite tasting McDonald's foods for only one dollar, daily. The customers have the opportunity to add something to their Extra Value Meal (combo meals), create their own meals or choose a small snack.

Customers also have the option to choose from the menu the Mc Chicken Sandwich (crunchy fried chicken), Mc Value Fries, Soft Drink, Snack Size Fruit and Yogurt Parfait, Hot Fudge Sundae, 2 pies and a Side Salad. McDonalds can sell their products for cheap because they make most of their money through Real Estate, not necessarily through sales. Like an founder of the McDonalds corporation said, "We are in the real estate business. The only reason why we sell [cheap] hamburgers is because they are the greatest producer of revenue from which our tenants pay us our rent". (Schlosser 96).

Because Americans are becoming increasingly health-conscious, many people have opted to avoid McDonalds' due to the very high fat content and other unhealthy factors within the food. Therefore, in attempt to maintain customers and attract customers that generally avoid McDonalds, McDonalds has recently introduced the New Premium Salads. The menu includes: (1) California Cobb Salad (Grilled or Crispy Chicken) Premium mixed greens are tossed with juicy grape tomatoes, shaved carrots, crumbled bleu cheese, hickory-smoked bacon and chopped egg. Offered with Newman's Own California Cobb Dressing - a full-bodied vinaigrette with a creamy blend of cheeses, hints of sweet pepper and savory herbs.

(2) Caesar Salad (Grilled or Crispy Chicken) Premium mixed greens are mixed with juicy grape tomatoes, shaved carrots, grated Parmesan cheese and savory garlic croutons. Offered with Newman's Own Creamy Caesar Dressing - a fragrant and traditional blend of low-fat olive oil, cheeses and garlic. (3) Bacon Ranch Salad (Grilled or Crispy Chicken) Premium mixed greens are tossed with juicy grape tomatoes, shaved carrots, jack and cheddar cheeses, and hickory-smoked bacon. Offered with Newman's Own Ranch Dressing - a creamy buttermilk dressing made with a unique blend of herbs, spices, chives and parsley. McDonalds suggest that these salads can be a healthier alternative to the normal greasy, fattening Hamburgers and French Fries. Also, another alternative is to request, or special order meals in what McDonald's calls serving sizes.

Fruit and yogurt parfaits are also claimed to be healthy alternatives. Another recent marketing scheme is the Winning Time game service. Game Pieces are affixed to select packaging. A customer must carefully peel the perforated area of the Game Piece from top to bottom to reveal the face of the Game Piece and determine if it is a Potential Winner.

Winning Game Pieces have Win / Gan as and a description of the prize printed on the Game Piece. One can obtain the game piece for special food, cash or material prizes by mailing in a request or going into participating McDonalds stores and purchasing select items. In addition to food products and service, McDonalds also offers stock options for investors, toys for children and a Hamburger University. The eighty-acre campus of Hamburger University is McDonalds' managerial training center.

Students wearing khakis and white tees come to study to obtain their "Degree in Hamburger ology". The course lasts two weeks and trains a few thousand managers, executives, and franchisees each year. Students from out of town stay at the Hyatt on the McDonald's campus. Most of the classes are devoted to personnel issues, teaching lessons in teamwork and employee motivation, promoting "a common McDonald's language and common McDonald's culture" (31).