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Deutsche Bank upgrades McDonald's

Fast-food firm McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) received a boost this morning, as Deutsche Bank upped the company to Buy from Hold. The brokerage noted that the burger behemoth could receive a boost in the second half of the year from its McCafe line of beverages. These drinks are now available in 10,000 locations, up from 1,000 restaurants a year ago.

McCafe is in the midst of a heavy advertising campaign, which includes TV, radio, print, online and outdoor ads that were launched earlier this month. MCD is spending more than $100 million in order to introduce McCafe to the American masses.

Continue reading Deutsche Bank upgrades McDonald's

Makeover needed: McDonald's

This post is part of a feature on companies and products that our bloggers think are in need of a makeover. See all 26.

McDonald's has been hit by one serious critique after another of food safety and nutrition. The company has gone from being a family chain to something only those desperate to save time or money want. There have been half-hearted efforts to modernize, but what McDonald's really needs is a complete menu makeover.

I'm not talking about changing away from hamburgers in all their infinite variety, either. But over the last couple decades the eating public has gotten a lot more picky and worried about getting fat or sick from mad cow disease or some contaminant.

There have been many serious critiques of their impact on worldwide nutrition. Eric Schlosser described in Fast Food Nation how mega-producer McDonald's uses butchering assembly lines. In an era of food safety concern, "a single fast-food hamburger now contains meat from dozens or even hundreds of different cattle." Morgan Spurlock examined in the movie Supersize Me and a related book what happens when an individual -- or a whole country -- eats too much McDonald's.

Of course, McDonald's is facing pressure from the other side, too. We want cheap food. Especially in a recession, people love the dollar menu. But McDonald's has just got to improve the food.

Continue reading Makeover needed: McDonald's

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Last updated: November 12, 2009: 11:44 PM

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