All articles tagged with #mcdonalds
A 22-year-old Southbridge McDonald’s night manager, Kaylie Santos, is charged with distributing food with a harmful substance after allegedly placing her saliva on fries served to her ex‑girlfriend; police say a Snapchat video captured the act, and arraignment is set for June 5. Authorities say no other customers were affected and there were no public health concerns.
A Massachusetts McDonald’s employee who appeared in a viral clip stuffing fries into her mouth and returning them to a box will face criminal charges, with police saying she’ll be formally charged at Dudley District Court. The restaurant fired her and the coworker who filmed, while health officials reviewed the incident and found no public health violations; investigators are determining whether the fries were served to customers.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece and former Fox News host, attended a ribbon-cutting at a new McDonald’s in Athens, praising the chain as a vehicle for American culture and investment and calling it Europe’s most technologically advanced McDonald’s, highlighting how American soft power is being projected through fast food.
The Chicago Fire announced that their new $750 million stadium at The 78 in the South Loop will be named McDonald's Park under a naming rights deal with McDonald's; the privately funded project is set to open in 2028, seats over 22,000, and marks a major recent stadium development for Chicago.
Rising gasoline costs are squeezing lower‑income households and nudging them toward cheaper fast‑food options, helping McDonald’s and Taco Bell gain share as drive‑thru and value menus become the more affordable dining choice.
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski says the K-shaped economy is worsening: higher-income shoppers spend normally while lower-income consumers cut back amid inflation and higher gas prices, with consumer sentiment in 'heightened anxiety.' The company posted 3.8% growth in global same-store sales and $6.52 billion in revenue, and is balancing price-friendly value items with premium offerings as it searches for growth in a tougher environment; its stock has fallen about 7% year to date.
McDonald’s is accelerating its push in China, aiming for 10,000 mainland stores by 2028 (up from 7,700 at end-2025), with about half of last year’s openings in China. First-quarter same-store sales in its international developmental licensed markets rose 3.4%. About 52% of McDonald’s China business is owned by Trustar, a Citic Capital private‑equity unit. The company leans on nostalgia—reintroducing vanilla and strawberry milkshakes at select stores—and value pricing (one-plus-one meals from roughly 14 yuan) to compete as local brands gain ground.
McDonald’s beat Wall Street’s Q1 earnings estimates as it leaned into value with new menu items and beverages, posting adjusted EPS of $2.83 on revenue of $6.52 billion (up 9% YoY). Global same-store sales rose 3.8%, led by a 3.9% gain in the U.S. from higher average checks; international markets also posted solid gains. The company rolled out a sub-$3 menu, a $4 breakfast deal, and ongoing $5–$6 bundles, plus six new beverages to drive incremental visits. Management cited beef and packaging cost pressures but reaffirmed US food and paper inflation expectations in the low-to-mid single digits and reiterated plans to remove self-serve soda machines by 2032. Shares edged higher on the results.
McDonald’s is set to report Q1 2026 results before the bell, with expected EPS around $2.74 and revenue about $6.47 billion. Wall Street looks for roughly 3.7% same-store-sales growth, while investors monitor whether higher gas prices are easing customer demand. Shares have fallen about 10% over the past year despite a broader market rally, and the company remains valued around $201.5 billion.
McDonald's is adding six permanent drinks nationwide—three Refreshers (Strawberry Watermelon, Mango Pineapple, Blackberry Passion Fruit) and three crafted sodas (Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, Dirty Dr Pepper)—as part of a beverage push, while phasing out self-serve soda machines by 2032 and introducing dedicated in-store beverage specialist roles.
McDonald’s plans to phase out self-serve beverage stations in U.S. dining rooms by 2032 to cut labor and maintenance costs while moving to counter-prepared drinks and expanding the beverage lineup, including new dirty sodas and Refreshers.
Starting May 6, McDonald’s USA is launching six new beverages—three Refreshers and three crafted sodas—nationwide with features like freeze-dried fruit, popping boba, and cold foam. The lineup includes Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher, Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr Pepper, and the company says these drinks are here to stay and will be a core reason customers visit.
McDonald's is adding six specialty drinks to menus starting May 6: three lemonade-based refreshers (Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher) and three dirty sodas (Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, Dirty Dr Pepper). A few locations may have them early, with availability best checked via the McDonald's app, as the company aims to make beverages a key draw beyond just meals.
McDonald's is refreshing its drink lineup with six new beverages—three lemonade-based refreshers (Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher) and three dirty sodas (Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, Dirty Dr Pepper)—arriving nationwide May 6, with some locations possibly serving them early; check the McDonald's app for availability.
McDonald’s is piloting bubble-tea–style boba refreshers and a bold Dr Pepper twist as part of a broader push to accelerate growth, signaling a shift toward adventurous beverages to attract younger diners and differentiate the menu.