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Mcdonalds

Facts
McDonald's roots go back to the early 1940s when two brothers opened a burger restaurant that relied on standardized preparation to maintain quality—the Speedee Service System.

So impressed was Ray Kroc with the brothers' approach that he became their national franchise agent, relying on the company's proven operating system to maintain quality and consistency.

Over the next few decades, McDonald's used controlled experimentation to maintain the McDonald's experience, all the while expanding the menu to appeal to a broader range of consumers. For example, in June 1976, McDonald's introduced a breakfast menu as a way to more fully utilize the physical plant. In 1980, the company rolled out Chicken McNuggets.

Despite these innovations, McDonald's tremendous growth could only continue for so long. Its average annual return on equity was 25.2% between 1965 and 1991. But the company found its sales per unit slowing between 1990 and 1991. In addition, McDonald's share of the quick service market fell from 18.7% in 1985 to 16.6% in 1991. Plus growth in the quick service market was projected to only keep pace with inflation in the 1990s.

McDonald's faced heightening competition on several fronts. First, its traditional rivals—Burger King, Wendy's, and Taco Bell—were eating into its margins through promotions and value pricing strategies. Taking a leaf from McDonald's own playbook, Sonic and Rally's were using a very limited menu approach to attract time-strapped consumers. Finally, Chili's and Olive Garden were appealing to diners looking for something a little more enticing that the familiar Golden Arches for their families.

In the late 1980s, McDonald's began recognizing the importance of maintaining an ecologically correct posture with the public, which was becoming more concerned about the environment. For example, in 1989, 53% of respondents in one survey revealed that they had not bought a product because they didn't know what...