McDonald's
Fast food restaurant · Akron
246 E Exchange St, Akron, OH 44304
Highlights
Classic chain known for burgers & fries, with varied customer experiences
Classic chain known for burgers & fries, with varied customer experiences
"Reportedly testing a range of automation—from scurrying robots that pour drinks, flip burgers, and even 'bounce' unruly customers who bring baby raccoons into the store, to robotic fryers and automated cooking for items like chicken and fish—this major fast-food chain aims to speed up service and reduce labor costs. Trials also include voice-activated drive-through ordering, but imperfect voice-recognition (especially with accented speech) and substantial upfront expenses have made many franchisees hesitant, so wider rollout is expected to be gradual. The initiative is framed around efficiency and faster service, but it also raises concerns about job displacement." - Tim Forster
"A ubiquitous fast-food chain whose grilled chicken sandwich—ordered plain, no sauce, two at a time—was named as a campaign-trail comfort food, reflecting a preference for simple, on-the-go, utilitarian meals and the kind of inexpensive fare campaigns have historically used to feed staff." - Jenny G. Zhang
"Represented in the video by a character dressed as a large order of fries who later embraces a hamburger-costumed counterpart, the fast-food brand is used as a campy, symbolic centerpiece in a junk-food–themed trailer-park spectacle. The fries costume functions as a focal point for the staged reconciliation between rivals, while surrounding scenes of colorful cakes, a Nickelodeon Gak pie and cookie giveaways reinforce a playful, overeating carnival atmosphere where junk food brings people together." - Greg Morabito
"Mentioned as a comparative low point in brand behavior, with the implication that the ongoing acronym stunts, while annoying, are still not as egregious as the larger fast-food chain’s perceived missteps." - Jaya Saxena
"An SNL cast member bought enough food from a major fast-food chain to feed an entire sold-out movie screening and its staff, spending roughly $400. The generous purchase was likely appreciated for a film that runs more than three hours, and the outing included the performer’s friends (an Instagram post suggests comedian John Mulaney may have been there). Social posts mentioned someone dealing with food poisoning, which was presumed unrelated to the concession purchase." - Jenny G. Zhang
