McDonald's
Fast food restaurant · San Diego ·
Classic burgers & fries, praise for balanced Diet Coke
Classic burgers & fries, praise for balanced Diet Coke
"After civil-rights attorney Daryl Parks—known for representing the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and other high-profile victims of racial injustice—joined the plaintiffs' team at Ferraro Law Firm, two racial-discrimination lawsuits brought by Black former and current franchisees allege the fast-food chain systematically denied Black operators the same growth opportunities and treatment afforded to white franchisees. A Business Insider investigation found a large cash-flow gap—white franchisees earned about $60,600 more per month on average as of 2017—which plaintiffs cite as evidence of discriminatory practices; Parks called the litigation historic and framed it as a fight against being treated like second-class citizens. The company has asked a federal judge to dismiss the suit filed by former franchisees, arguing that “success is promised to no one” and that it supports all franchisees, including those facing economic hardships, while plaintiffs push forward with claims of unequal opportunity and treatment." - Jenny G. Zhang
"Since its 1981 debut, the McRib sandwich has evolved into a cult obsession largely because it appears only intermittently—released in short bursts or in select regions—and has even inspired dedicated websites and fan groups. The chain is rolling the McRib out nationwide for the first time since 2012, likely leveraging the "rare item" appeal to boost traffic after mixed performance: recent collaborations with Travis Scott and J Balvin showed marketing success, but breakfast sales have slumped with fewer morning commuters and overall sales have been hurt by government-mandated closures. The nationwide relaunch is positioned as a way to reinvigorate customers, and may also function to distract from multiple ongoing racial discrimination lawsuits." - Jaya Saxena
"The chain's soft-serve ice-cream machines are notoriously often listed as inoperable, a problem that has generated memes, countless Reddit and Quora complaints, and a pledge from the franchisees' association to improve machine reliability so the brand stops being mocked online. That recurring failure inspired McBroken, a site created by software engineer Rashiq Zahid that queries the chain's internal API and maps which locations have working machines; Zahid’s bot tries to add a McSundae to the mobile app cart every 30 minutes to determine status, which also captures machines unavailable due to cleaning. McBroken builds on earlier, crowdsourced efforts from 2017 and—assuming stores accurately update statuses—offers a relatively precise way for fans to find cones and sundaes. Researchers have already begun using the dataset to check for equity concerns, such as whether inoperable machines are more common in Black and low-income neighborhoods, while critics and fans alike continue to debate the soft-serve itself (noted for ingredients like cellulose gum, guar gum, and carrageenan)." - Jenny G. Zhang
"As a massive franchised employer that reaches millions of workers through franchisees, the company was highlighted as a pivotal 'whale' whose policies would be crucial to increasing turnout—meaning advocates may need to pressure or persuade the brand and its franchise network to adopt broader employee voting supports." - Nick Mancall-Bitel
"After the runaway success of the Travis Scott meal, the fast-food chain rolled out a J Balvin collaboration to recapture that buzz and divert attention from ongoing discrimination lawsuits. The limited-time menu hasn't matched the previous hype—partly because many customers report difficulty finding locations with a working McFlurry machine—but it comes with an over-the-top merch drop that leans into Balvin's vivid, playful aesthetic. The exclusive collection (which Balvin says channels his personality and creativity) includes a hot-pink bedspread printed with french fries, McFlurry-style bucket hats, a near–Nike-pink sweatshirt, temporary tattoos styled like a meal receipt, and a novelty brass-knuckle–style accessory that would likely trigger airport security. Overall the promotion feels like a candy-coated, Bazooka Joe–style funhouse: bold, whimsical, and geared more toward spectacle than subtle menu innovation." - Jaya Saxena