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McDonald’s and Lanza Group LLC have teamed to sponsor Fiesta Atlanta ’07, a Cinco de Mayo celebration. The celebration
will take place at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta on May 6. Featured will be national and local musical acts on the main
stage. Also part of the celebration will be food from Latin American countries and an artist’s market. (Earthtimes.org 4/6/2007)
McDonald’s offer to pay tomato farm workers in Florida a penny more per pound has been rejected by the Florida Tomato
Growers Exchange, which said it was advised by attorneys that participating in the deal could leave growers open for antitrust
lawsuits and racketeering. (Associated Press 5/24/07)
McDonald’s is being sued by a woman who fell on slick steps leading from a restaurant in August 2006. The woman is seeking
in excess of $50,000 for injuries to her mouth and left knee in a complaint filed June 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. She
claims that the stairs were not safe because they were covered with debris, which the restaurant should have known about.
(madisonrecord.com 6/6/07)
McDonald’s reported May same-store sales increased 7.4% domestically, 8.9% in Europe and 10.2% in Asia/Pacific, Africa
and the Middle East. Global same-store sales rose 8.7%. Systemwide sales for May grew 11.9% worldwide. The company
attributed the sales increase to its “Shrek the Third” movie promotion, snack wraps and chicken sandwiches. (Company
Release 6/8/07)
McDonald’s won dismissal on May 30 of three out of five lawsuits against the company over allergens that were said to be in
the hash browns and french fries. The judge said the plaintiffs’ complaint did not give enough detail about an alleged scheme
by the company to hide the existence of dairy and gluten in its products. However, two suits on breach of warranty and unjust
enrichment will proceed. The suits seek to force the company to change product information in its advertising. (Bloomberg
News 5/31/07)
Jack in the Box is being sued by CKE Restaurants for deceptive advertising involving its Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, as well as
McDonald’s and Burger King. The complaint states that Jack in the Box advertisements imply competitors use cow anus to
make Angus burgers. CKE seeks a court ruling blocking the ads. (MSNBC.com 5/29/07; NRN Daily NewsFax 5/29/07)
McDonald’s new ad campaign aims to change the image of “McJobs” into “McCallings.” This initiative highlights the rewards of
company jobs, particularly the opportunity for internal promotions and the start of lifelong careers. Ads are targeting both U.S.
and British audiences. (BusinessWeek 6/4/07 p13)
Burger King—along with a number of national quick-service chains, including McDonald’s and Wendy’s—is refusing to comply
with a New York City ordinance that requires certain fast-food restaurants to post calorie content information on menu boards.
The new rule states that fast-food operators must list calorie values next to menu items in type that is as large as the price of
the item. Burger King and its counterparts contend that the rule unfairly singles out quick-service restaurant companies that
already voluntarily offer nutritional information. (Yahoo! News 6/26/07)
McDonald’s is revamping the interiors of a number of units in Germany. The new design elements include fireplaces, leather
sofas, hardwood floors and plants. With these changes, company executives hope to create a more comfortable atmosphere
for dine-in patrons, in an effort to attract older customers in Europe, where the population is aging. (Reuters.com 6/27/07)
McDonald’s employees in a Tel Aviv unit spent hours counting change after 10 high school students visited the unit and
ordered $150 worth of food, and paid with small coins. The teenagers decided to “get revenge” for waiting in long lines, then
they saved loose change for a year. The stunt resulted in the McDonald’s location losing the equivalent of a day’s work with
fewer employees manning their stations. (Ynet 7/12/07)
McDonald’s recognized four business and community leaders during its 365Black Awards celebration. The celebration, held
during the Essence Music Festival at the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, honored Marian Wright Edelman,
founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund; Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc.; Linda
Dunham, owner/operator and chairman of the board for Ronald McDonald House Charities; and Roy Griggs, McDonald’s
owner/operator recognized for his work in assisting New Orleans evacuees and fellow operators affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The 356Black Awards are McDonald’s tribute to African American leaders for their service and contribution to bettering the
lives of African Americans across the country and in their communities. (Eurweb.com 7/18/07)
McDonald’s is being sued by a Texas police officer for serving coffee with a one-inch-long cockroach on the cup that later
crawled into his mouth. The incident happened in 2006 at a Cleburne, TX, unit. The lawsuit was filed after the police officer
and restaurant manager were unable to resolve the matter. (United Press International Online 6/14/07)
McDonald’s Hawaii locations are being redesigned to include double drive-thru service. Renovations also include expanded
playground equipment for children and the addition of McCafés. McDonald’s has finished renovating 15 of its 75 Hawaii
locations and will complete another five by the end of 2007. (Pacific Business News Online 6/20/07)
©Technomic Information Services 2007, CIS profiles may not be copied or distributed in any print or electronic format without a license or written consent.
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