Mcdonald's, Food | featured news

McDonald's Corp. is having trouble stomaching the competition. The world's biggest hamburger chain said Thursday that a key sales figure fell for the first time in nearly a decade in October, as it faced the double whammy of a challenging economy abroad and intensifying competition at home. The company, based in Oak Brook, Ill., says global revenue at restaurants open at least 13 months fell 1.8 percent for the month. The last time it dropped was in March 2003.

The Golden Arches are starting to lose some of their shine. McDonald's Corp. says a key revenue figure came in flat in July, its worst showing in more than nine years, as diners pulled back amid a rough economy. After years of outperforming rivals with a string of popular new items, the snag also suggests competition is intensifying for the world's biggest hamburger chain.

With new food, revamped decor and an embrace of Twitter and mommy blogs, McDonald’s has returned from the brink of a public-relations nightmare.

McDonald's plans to promote more nutritional options, such as automatically including fruit or a low-fat dairy option in every Happy Meal.

McDonald's reported a 15% rise in quarterly profit on sharply higher revenue, though it expects sales growth to ease this month.

As food costs are expected to rise about four percent in the United States and Europe from last year, McDonald's plans to raise its prices slightly and gradually. In March, the company raised all menu items by one percent, reports Nation's Restaurant News, and plans to "keep taking small, additional menu price increases."Read More...

It's been a big few weeks for fast-food breakfast sandwiches. First Burger King added sausage-egg sandwiches and breakfast bowls to the menu (admitting they totally ripped off McDonald's) and last week, Subway launched a new line of five breakfast sandwiches.

McDonald's earnings rose 23% on stronger margins and same-store sales along with an increase in customer visits.

Fast-food group McDonald's says it is to spend $2.1bn on opening new restaurants and upgrading existing outlets.