McDonald’s Sustainability The purpose of this paper is to introduce you to the fast food industry, how it is everywhere in the United States and increasingly spreading globally. The majority of the fast food restaurants in the United States are dominated by hamburger fast food restaurants. Amongst the burger segment, McDonald’s is the number one leader in the burger industry, followed by Burger King, and Wendy’s respectively (Oches, 2011). After a brief introduction and history of McDonald’s, you will be guided into what measures McDonald’s uses in their journey to a more sustainable business. While also assessing their sustainable framework and the five key areas they focus on as a company, which include: people, planet, food, sourcing, …show more content…
Typically the fast food industry is associated with urban development, franchised operations which become chain restaurants across the globe that offer standardized meals, so that consumers can enjoy their favorite meals anywhere (Borade, G. (2012). Tracy V. Wilson states that McDonald’s was the first fast food restaurant to utilize a speedy assembly-line system to prepare food when the McDonald brothers opened up a redesigned restaurant in 1948, in which other chains followed a couple years after in the 1950’s (Wilson, n.d.). The speedy delivery made McDonald’s the largest fast-food chain restaurant in the world …show more content…
In 1948, they closed their restaurant for remodeling and when they opened back up, they did away with the car hop and were a drive-thru service restaurant with a limited menu. McDonald brothers called their new system the “speedee service system” where they were offering burgers, fries and shakes in a speedy fashion. The burgers were prepared factory style, where all burgers were the same and had ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles on every single burger and kept warm and were readily available when a customer went through the drive-thru (McDonald’s history,
The New York Times bestseller Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal is one of the most riveting books to come out about fast food restaurants to date (Schlosser, 2004). Fast food consumption has become a way of life for many in the United States as well as many other countries in the world. The author Eric Schlosser an investigative reporter whose impeccable researching and bold interviewing captures the true essence of the immense impact that fast food restaurants are having in America (2004). Beginning with McDonald’s, the first fast food restaurant, which opened on April 15, 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois to current trends of making fast food a global realization McDonald’s has paved the way for many fast food restaurants following the same basic ideal that is tasty foods served fast at a minimal cost (2011). Schlosser explains how fast food restaurants have gained substantial market share of the consumers; he also shows that by marketing to children and offering less unhealthful fare, that are purchased from mega-companies which are often camouflaged with added ingredients and cooked unhealthful ways, that these companies are indeed causing irreparable harm to our country (2004).
In Fast Food Nation, Schlosser goes beyond the facts that left many people’s eye wide opened. Throughout the book, Schlosser discusses several different topics including food-borne disease, near global obesity, animal abuse, political corruption, worksite danger. The book explains the origin of the all issues and how they have affected the American society in a certain way. This book started out by introducing the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station beside the Colorado Springs, one of the fastest growing metropolitan economies in America. This part presents the whole book of facts on fast food industry. It talks about how Americans spend more money on fast food than any other personal consumption. To promote mass production and profits, industries like MacDonald, keep their labor and materials costs low. Average US worker get the lowest income paid by fast food restaurants, and these franchise chains produces about 90% of the nation’s new jobs. In the first chapter, he interviewed Carl N. Karcher, one of the fast food industry’s leade...
From a study completed by Chicago-based Research International USA completed a study called “Fast Food Nation 2008. The panel consisted of 1,000 respondents of ages 16-65 who provided their inputs with an online survey which was conducted between March 13 through 2008. Which was based on results on fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s are gaining popularity even through the economic hardship and recession. Marketing strategy has become more of influence on kids and young American’s. As population grows and the demand increases of fast food restaurants are expanding their stores to capturing more consumers. Fast food chains are also willing to change their menus to continue to gain and retain repeating customers. With each generation that passes, brings fast food chains into more homes and continues impacting lives.
The broad issue facing McDonald’s U.K is the current attitude toward rising obesity, The Company seems to have tried many different approaches to deal with the problem, but the problem persists. List all the problems facing McDonald’s and critique its various approaches to solve the
McDonald’s was the first company to try to export America’s fast food and changes in eating habits to other nations. McDonald’s has over
A world without the Big Mac, Happy Meals, Chicken McNuggets, and the phrase “I’m lovin’ it,” is almost inconceivable. People around the globe have become accustomed to the high gleaming golden arches that make up the famous emblem for McDonald’s. McDonald’s has grasped the concept that culture flows from power. In this case, the American culture flows through the veins of this fast-food giant and the more that is supplied, the greater the demand. It is no secret that McDonald’s has become one of the world’s largest fast-food retailers. It has become a well known icon that has played a huge part in globalization, with chains located in many different countries… transforming the meaning of fast-food all around the world.
The first fast food chain was White Castle, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. White Castle was created so Americans got a better understanding of hamburgers. Originally most people thought that hamburgers were “cheap” and “low-quality” food. White castle helped change that perspective. They decided to build their original restaurants, so customers could see the food being prepared. They also named the restaurant “White Castle”, so people would think of the restaurant as pristine. White Castle is considered “fast food” and much of their menu items are processed. In 1941, the next fast food chain came along and revolutionized the industry… McDonalds. In 1948 McDonald's was established by the McDonald brothers. McDonalds sells lots of processed foods and most of their food items would fall into the category of “processed” and many of them are relatively unhealthy. Through the 1980s, fast food rose to popularity, dominating the food industry. “The problem with living in a fast-food nation is that we expect food to be cheap.” (Alice
According to Royle (1999) McDonald’s is a very large multinational enterprise (MNE) and the largest food service operation in the world. Currently the company has 1.5 million workers with 23,500 stores in over 110 countries with the United Kingdom and Germany amongst the corporation’s six biggest markets, and over 12,000 restaurants in the United States. In 1974 the United Kingdom corporation was established and in 1971 the Germany corporation was established, currently the combined corporation has over 900 restaurants and close to 50,000 employees in each of these countries (Royle, 1999).
McDonalds was established about sixty years ago and has dramatically changed. The fast food industries’ lack of concern when dealing with the quality of food, and ethically wrong business practices cannot go ignored. With demand for fast food constantly increasing, solutions should be made accordingly to meet these demands without practicing business ethics that are morally wrong. The time has come for McDonalds to realize the consequences of selling unhealthy food and using morally wrong business practices. Spending more time concentrating on the consumer’s health and well-being, rather than concentrating only on profit margins is the kind of change the fast food industry needs.
Even with the food that we eat. One major industry that greatly impacted other countries around the world is the Fast Food industry. Fast food is the term given to food that is prepared and served at a fast pace. It is a known fact that Americans are absolutely obsessed with fast food. It’s filling, it’s easy, it's convenient, and it’s inexpensive. Compared to other foods and more expensive restaurants, fast food something that anybody of most ages can go out and enjoy. To no surprise the most popular fast food chain in McDonalds; Originating in May 15, 1940 in California, The McDonalds Corporation is the worlds largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants. By 1970, there was a McDonalds in every US
The fast-food industry is changing everyday. There are new products being introduced in the market and new slogans being created. The companies in the fast-food industry will do their best to make the greater burger, and to make bigger and better fries.
Have you ever wondered how the business empire of McDonalds was started? With over ninety nine billion served, it was started in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. It was started off as just a Bar-B-Q that served just twenty items. Its first mascot was named “Speedee” They eventually realized that by setting up their kitchen like an assembly line that they could be much more productive and get their food done faster, with every employee doing a specified job; the restaurants production rate became much higher. A milkshake machine vendor came into their small restaurant one day, his name was Ray Kroc. He saw how much potential the restaurant has, so he bought it out and opened one of the first franchises. Within the first year of Ray Kroc buying it, there were one hundred and two locations all around the world. McDonalds currently is one of the largest fast food restaurants in the world and currently has served over sixty four million customers through one of their thirty two thousand sites. It has almost become a way of life for America. Though, McDonalds started off as a small business between two brothers, it grew into one of the largest restaurant franchises in the world and greatly affects our society and how we eat our food.
Fast food outlets actually have been existed from millennia in China, India and ancient Europe. In the past, many people cannot afford to have a kitchen and this becomes the main reason they buy their food in fast food outlets (Reverse Your Age, 2013). The perception of fast food started to change in twentieth century. The first company that change the culture and perception of fast food was McDonald’s, followed by their future competitors such as KFC, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Subway. As they get a good appreciation from the customers followed by the impact of the globalisation, almost all of the fast food companies have been expanded their restaurant chain in many nations (Wojtek, 2013). Nowadays, with our busy life schedule and the increasing trend where women entering workforce promote an opportunity for the fast food industry to grow bigger. We can see the significant growth from the fast food industry as the industry itself has been generated over $160 billion in 2012 compared to their revenue in 1970 which only around $6 billion (Franchise Help, n.d.). With this significant growth, it does not mean that every company in this industry are successful. Some company has to closed some of their stores due to the lack of environmental research and preparation in entering a new country which commonly lead to the poor selling rate. The deeper explanation and points that is mention below will be also represent as the industry current state.
It is not a surprise that fast food has become a way of life in America. Every day about a quarter of the adult population n United States visits the fast food restaurant. Every month about 90 percent of children aged 3-9 visit McDonald's. According to Schlosser, Americans spent more than $110 billion a year on the fast food. In his book "Fast Food Nation" Eric Schlosser is not chiefly interested in the consumption of fast food, but his primary objective is to explore manufacturing starting with the unemployment. His book deals with United States politics and raises many social issues.
In 1967, fast food represented 14.3% of combined far from home nourishment uses, and by 1999 it achieved 35.5% (Mark D. Jekanowski, James K. Binkley and James Eales, 2001). For fast food restaurant clients, the convenience can be defined as time saving and avoiding the preparation of food (Mark D. Jekanowski, James K. Binkley and James Eales, 2001). One of the reasons why people choose to buy fast foods is because of spouse employment and assigned time standards (Mark D. Jekanowski, James K. Binkley and James Eales, 2001). One does not wait for food, because fast food is fast. You get service almost immediately, the quality of food is consistent, and getting the products information is minimal. If they do not deliver these advantages to people, they won’t be convenient anymore (Mark D. Jekanowski, James K. Binkley and James Eales, 2001). People would not travel far and wide for the food. It should be in close proximity to them. That’s why fast food restaurants are placed in conveniently accessed locations (Mark D. Jekanowski, James K. Binkley and James Eales, 2001). For example, McDonalds uses an ‘in-you-face’ strategy. “McDonald’s wants to have a site wherever people live, work, play, or gather. Our convenience strategy is to monitor the changing lifestyle of consumers and intercept them at every turn. As we expand customer convenience, we gain market share.” (McDonald’s Corporation USA, 1994 Annual Report, p.8). Within the fast food industry they make use of ‘satellite’ restaurants as a strategy. They are small, they have a limited-menu, lower operation costs and they lease properties for the restaurants. This all lowers the cost of growth (Mark D. Jekanowski, James K. Binkley and James Eales,