Week 3: 9/11 – 9/17
Apple just released IOS 17 as well as the new iPhone 15 pre-order, with new features to increase productivity and functioning, Apple implemented a standby mode which allows the phone to still function as a clock and shuffle through photos. They also updated FaceTime which allows users to display FaceTime calls on AppleTv and other devices. And the major update is NameDrop, which allows users to airdrop their contact information with other nearby users, allowing for easier and faster contact transfers. Apple is also pushing and implementing a carbon neutral product base, allowing for a clean future within the coming years, they demonstrated this with the carbon neutral apple watches which are sold at around 50 million products per year.
Week 4: 9/18 – 9/22
A secret McDonalds whistleblower started releasing all of McDonalds breakfast secrets to the public. Some of these secrets are already well known but others are more shocking, employees take to social media to expose the large brand for their food production tactics, one example is McDonalds folded egg wraps come already pre made and heated up, not freshly made in the mornings. The same goes for their pancakes and burritos, all of these products are pre made and only heated up to be served to customers.
In an Australian McDonalds, a couple teenage girls terrorize and attack workers on a Wednesday morning. These teens wanted drinks but didn’t pay for anything then proceeded to throw and attack the employees, all of this is captured on video posted to social medias. Luckily no employees were injured but McDonalds spoke up about the incident claiming they don’t support anti social behaviors and that the employees took all the right precautions when it comes to these types of situations.
Week 5: 9/25 – 9/29 McDonalds
Just in the past week, there was a lawsuit placed against McDonald’s claiming they were misleading customers with ads that show larger, and more nutrient burgers than they actually receive in stores. The federal judge dismissed the case. The judge states that the size and caloric balance of the burgers are listed on the websites. The judge also states that the plaintiff was unable to provide reasonable evidence that customers were being mislead by the products.
This lawsuit was one of many that were placed against McDonald’s for misleading in advertisement, none of which are accurate or true. Perkins Coie, a law firm that tracks all class action lawsuits, said that around 200 were filed against all restaurants in 2022. This is a ginormous jump from only 10 years ago.
Week 6: 10/2 – 10/6 McDonalds
Over the past couple of months, there have been plenty of polls out deciding what foods customers what McDonald’s to bring back into restaurants. All though they are not official, they have started to listen and bring back stuff into stores, like the breakfast bagels. As well as snack wraps and their signature McRib sandwich is back. Bringing these foods back are rising excitement for customers. McDonalds is also bringing back their popular Spooky baskets as kids toys or meals, these are for holding the food and count as treat baskets as well. All though there is not much news or stories about McDonald’s, they are making marketing improvements and trying to bring back fan favorites which would increase revenue.
Week 7: 10/9 – 10/13 McDonalds
McDonalds is still going along with its Halloween efforts with offers its Boo Buckets and other Halloween festive items on its menu. This week, McDonalds comes under fire and scrutiny after talking to the press stating it will provide free meals to Israeli soldiers while they are at war with Hamas. On Instagram, McDonalds announced it was giving thousands of free meals to hospitals and and troops in the Israel Defense Forces. They have opened five restaurants near the area just for the purpose of making and providing food for these soldiers. Most people are inspired by their efforts but there are a few who are disgusted by this and believe they should also support those who were affected in Gaza. But McDonalds has reached out to inform everyone that they have indeed supported Gaza by sending large amounts of donations. Overall they have done a lot to support these hard times for everyone.
Week 8: 10/16 – 10/20 McDonalds
There has not been much new information that has arisen since the last week. McDonald’s is still receiving backlash from the Israeli and Hamas war that’s going on. People still are upset that they are providing food to soldiers who are in need, but I think that it is a very good thing they are doing. The war seems that it will continue for a duration of time but hopefully it is settled soon. Other then that, McDonald’s began to offer Free Fries Friday for the remanding of the year, this basically just means that every Friday, you are able to get a free fry of any size until 2024. This is nice but nothing very interesting has happened.
Week 9: 10/23 – 10/27 McDonalds
With quarter three coming to a close, McDonalds had to slow down the increase of their prices but still exceeded expectations when it comes to revenue. Their Wall Street forecast being around $6.56 billion dollars but reaching around $6.69 billion revenue, this is a 14% jump which also increased their shares by 1%. McDonald’s expected sales rose to 8.8% which is above the expected 8% increase from the Wall Street forecast. McDonald’s states to slow down on increasing prices and instead focus more on the value meals after seeing a decrease in customer conversion.
McDonald’s in Valley Station, Louisville celebrates one of their employees birthdays, Maxine, who turned 90 years old, they changed their signs out front to celebrate her birthday.
Week 10: 10/30 – 11/3 McDonalds
Over the past week, a new lawsuit was filed against McDonalds, claiming that its employees were careless when it came to the attack of a child. A young girl was attacked by a woman in a McDonald’s and was assaulted and later rushed to the hospital after the assault was broken up by a random man. The mother claims that the attack would have never gotten as bad as it was if employees intervened and “kept the peace”. She claims that they have an obligation to keep the restaurant clean and safe which they did not do. There is not much information released on the outcome of these attacks or the solution but she wants to continue to push to sue them based on these facts presented. They should have broken it up right away or done something to help the child from getting into any more harm.
Week 11: 11/6 – 11/10 McDonalds
Nothing significant has happened over the last week, a local man in White Marsh began causing destruction to a McDonalds drive through when he became irate, he begun throwing items at the window and workers. He was quickly arrested and taken away. McDonalds has announced that they will be staying open for the thanksgiving holidays for customers to come get a bite to eat. This isn’t very significant it’s just a nice gesture for some people but also forces employees to come in on thanksgiving with they could be spending with family.
Week 12: 11/13 – 11/17 McDonalds
The McDonald’s McRib is back in stores for a limited time! McDonalds workers are complaining about adults ordering happy meals due to the fact that they are complicated and take up time. This is understandable from a workers perspective but also ridiculous because it’s their job to serve the customers and shouldn’t complain when they get an order. Workers just want a faster, smoother operation when it comes to ordering through the drive through, so they are getting frustrated when adults do not know the process of ordering a happy meal and have to take the time to explain it to them.
A McDonald’s restaurant in Potomac, Maryland, which was supposed to close by the end of the year will stay open from a petition started by customers. Customers and people of the town managed to gain over 2,600 signatures for the petition. And the McDonald’s will continue tot stay open and serve customers for a while longer.
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