In 2015, McDonald’s had just discontinued the fan favorite snack wraps, removed hot mustard from the sauce lineup, and axed the Bacon Habanero Ranch, Bacon & Cheese, Deluxe Quarter Pounder with Cheese. To freshen up the menu, they rolled out a series of new items that same year in a desperate effort to freshen their oldschool cheap burger image, appeal to the modern healthconscious consumers, and better compete with the upscale burger joints.
Since 2015, the company has enjoyed a major turnaround. When you think of McDonald’s today, the company is really finding its form with hit celebrity partnerships from Travis Scott to BTS and Mariah Carey. There’s no more salads, gourmet sandwiches, or fancy sandwiches. And investors have noticed this turnaround with the stock up 110% over 5 years.
Many companies in multiple industries, not just McDonald’s and fast foods, find themselves in this identity crisis of being caught between their iconic legacy reputation and the newer millennial market. It’s thanks to food delivery, allday breakfast, and Rick & Morty that McDonald’s has completely transformed as a company, returning to the throne as the #1 fast food giant in 6 years.
Join the Modern MBA community / modernmba
☕ Support Modern MBA on Patreon and unlock bonuses like additional content, exclusive essays, and regular Q&A: / modernmba
0:00 CorporateLevel Identity Crisis
4:44 End of the Easterbrook Era
6:19 Disruption Mindset from Tech/Silicon Valley
9:07 Real Estate, Not Burgers
12:19 Earnings Impact of AllDay Breakfast
14:45 Szechuan Sauce Fiasco
17:00 Economics of BTS & Celebrity Meals