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Spectator
02-05-2025
- Business
- Spectator
McDonald's isn't worth it any more
When did you last eat at a McDonald's? If I'd asked this question a decade or so ago, I imagine the answer would probably have been 'more recently than I'd care to admit'. The Golden Arches were the ultimate fast-food guilty pleasure, where, for considerably less than a tenner, the hungry, hungover or intoxicated could gorge on burgers, chips, milkshakes and chicken nuggets – served swiftly and efficiently. It was never designed to be Michelin-star standard, but everyone knew what they were getting with a Maccy D's: comfort food that hit the spot and did so with unerring, machine-like competence. Yet now the company seems to be caught in an inexorable decline, as consumers tire of the belly-filling delights. It was announced this week that McDonald's first-quarter sales had fallen by 1 per cent, confounding analysts who had predicted growth. The organisation's CEO, Chris Kempczinski, blamed 'the toughest of market conditions', and there were briefings about how Donald Trump's tariffs had hurt overseas sales – as well, potentially, as damaging America's international standing in several markets. This may well be true. Yet it's also likely that the reason for the decline of McDonald's is that it simply isn't very good any more. In my home city of Oxford, the McDonald's recently changed premises from one end of the unlovely Cornmarket Street to the other. It has not been an improvement. The original McDonald's was a cramped, vaguely dodgy-looking place that tended to become quite interesting at chucking-out time in the local pubs. Its replacement is a dark, cavernous-looking place that makes it almost impossible to see what is going on in the crepuscular gloom. And if the words 'crepuscular gloom' are not ones that you usually associate with a fast-food chain restaurant, then you haven't been doing your homework. I would no more eat at a McDonald's today than I would become the founding member of a Meghan Markle fan club There is a depressing aspect to McDonald's now that all the Happy Meals and Big Macs cannot erase or change. Although I have a certain fond nostalgia for it as a childhood treat, I would no more eat at a McDonald's today than I would become the founding member of a Meghan Markle fan club. Should I wish to get a burger and chips, there are countless superior places to buy them from. Within a short walk of the McDonald's in Oxford, there's the excellent Shake Shack and that old reliable GBK, and London is thronged with the successful likes of Honest Burgers, Patty & Bun, Tommi's Burger Joint and many more places that offer similarly speedy food at far-from-bank-breaking prices – and at vastly higher levels of quality. When I used to go to McDonald's reasonably regularly, the old jokes were that the burgers were constituted of the unspeakable parts of a cow, minced up and served with a smile. Today, these jokes have rather died out – not because McDonald's succeeded in its pained and humourless campaign to educate its diners as to precisely what parts of the animal their burgers are drawn from, but because people no longer care enough to take the piss out of it. It is a sad indictment of the company that it has ceased to be an iconic rite of passage in every child's life, but the quality of what it is offering has declined so precipitously that it has now become largely irrelevant. I refer to personal experience in this matter. My nine-year-old daughter has long been curious about what goes on inside the crepuscular gloom, so I caved in and bought her a takeaway. It was not a success. She pronounced her chicken nuggets tough, the chips limp and flavourless, and the milkshake one big stodgy disappointment. She then uttered the words that every middle-class parent longs to hear: 'Can't we have Pizza Express instead?' Sorry, McDonald's – when the kids are asking for something else, the writing's clearly on the wall.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Citroen lights up the EV market with six comfy & clever cars under £35k – and a big battery beast coming soon
IMAGINE if Maccy D's did a Statue of Liberty takeover. Or if Wetherspoon's had a Thursday curry club menu hanging off the side of Big Ben. Advertisement 9 The French stuck 250,000 bulbs on the Eiffel Tower in 1925 to spell out CITROEN in 100ft letters - now they have electrified the brand again with six new EVs Credit: Supplied 9 The titchy two-seater Ami costs £7,695 - and it will zip around for 46 miles, recharges in four hours and has a 28mph top speed Credit: simon thompson 9 The first proper car is the e-C3. Two battery sizes. One that'll do 124 miles for £20k and one that'll nudge 200 miles for £22k Credit: simon thompson It's a bit like the French sticking 250,000 bulbs on the Eiffel Tower to spell out CITROEN in 100ft letters. Actually, that last one did happen in 1925 and lit up Paris for nine years. The ad was so bright it could be seen for 60 miles. Legend has it that Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly across the Atlantic, used it to guide him towards Le Bourget airport as he came in to land in 1927. Advertisement READ MORE MOTORS NEWS The car company's founder, Andre Citroen, was a genius marketeer. He illuminated other landmarks including the Arc de Triomphe and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in his time. There's a bit more red tape to deal with today. One hundred years on, Citroen's 'Electric Show' amounted to a measly six Ami quadricycles parked alongside the River Seine, lighting the way for a random street dance act. Advertisement Most read in Motors And that was about it. That's progress for you. Beloved European car brand releases new 'flagship' EV version of popular you'll never have range anxiety again Thought they'd at least send up some drones. The actual reason I'm in Paris is because Citroen has refreshed its entire model line-up in the last 12 months — all with a plug. Everyone is doing electric cars. But Citroen is doing six at prices more of us can afford. Advertisement All under £35k. We're getting there, aren't we? It starts with Ami. The titchy two-seater costs £7,695. Not my cup of tea, if I'm honest. But I do like the open-air Ami Buggy that's coming soon. 9 Next up is the £23k e-C3 Aircross - a C3 that has been s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d by 30cm to make the cabin even roomier Credit: Adrien Cortesi Advertisement 9 The e-C4 is a £28k family hatchback. Not a faux SUV. I already like it Credit: Matt Howell 9 The £29k e-C4 X, a saloon with a big boot Credit: Adrien Cortesi Amazing what taking the doors off can do. Ami will zip around for 46 miles, recharges in four hours and has a 28mph top speed. Advertisement Everything we discuss from here on out has the option of a petrol engine. Which makes them cheaper and more convenient. But today we're talking electric Citroens. The first proper car is the e-C3. Two battery sizes. One that'll do 124 miles for £20k. One that'll nudge 200 miles for £22k. Not as cool as a Renault 5 but loads more space in the back. There's a C3 van coming soon. Next up is the £23k e-C3 Aircross, a C3 that has been s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d by 30cm to make the cabin even roomier. Advertisement The petrol has a seven-seat option. But not the EV. The e-C4 is a £28k family hatchback. Not a faux SUV. I already like it. The French VW Golf if you like. The 51kWh version gives you 156hp under your right foot and a range of about 256 miles. Copy and paste the £29k e-C4 X, a saloon with a big boot. Finally, the £35k e-C5 Aircross is Citroen's new flagship arriving in September. Advertisement Same menu of motors and batteries as a One thing I will say is that all these cars are super comfy with sofa-like seats and pillow-soft suspension. That's the Citroen way. They're also priced to sell. Citroen UK boss Greg Taylor said: 'We're never going to be the cheapest but equally, as other brands have pushed further upmarket, a white space has been created and that's where we sit. Advertisement 'The cars look good, they're comfortable, they have the right level of technology, and people can afford them. 'We have five cars under 30 grand you can buy today. So they're not coming in six months. They're not coming in 18 months. They're here today. 'No one else can say that.' This summer Citroen will be launching a service-activated eight-year warranty. Advertisement Another bright idea. 9 Finally, the £35k e-C5 Aircross is Citroen's new flagship arriving in September Credit: simon thompson 9 The biggest 97kWh battery in the e-C5 nudges 422 miles Credit: simon thompson 9 The cars are super comfy with sofa-like seats and pillow-soft suspension. That's the Citroen way. Credit: simon thompson Advertisement Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Citroen lights up the EV market with six comfy & clever cars under £35k – and a big battery beast coming soon
CITRE-ON Citroen has refreshed its entire model line-up in the last 12 months Published: 23:28, Updated: 23:28, IMAGINE if Maccy D's did a Statue of Liberty takeover. Or if Wetherspoon's had a Thursday curry club menu hanging off the side of Big Ben. 9 9 9 It's a bit like the French sticking 250,000 bulbs on the Eiffel Tower to spell out CITROEN in 100ft letters. Actually, that last one did happen in 1925 and lit up Paris for nine years. The ad was so bright it could be seen for 60 miles. Legend has it that Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly across the Atlantic, used it to guide him towards Le Bourget airport as he came in to land in 1927. The car company's founder, Andre Citroen, was a genius marketeer. He illuminated other landmarks including the Arc de Triomphe and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in his time. There's a bit more red tape to deal with today. One hundred years on, Citroen's 'Electric Show' amounted to a measly six Ami quadricycles parked alongside the River Seine, lighting the way for a random street dance act. And that was about it. That's progress for you. Beloved European car brand releases new 'flagship' EV version of popular you'll never have range anxiety again Thought they'd at least send up some drones. The actual reason I'm in Paris is because Citroen has refreshed its entire model line-up in the last 12 months — all with a plug. Everyone is doing electric cars. But Citroen is doing six at prices more of us can afford. All under £35k. We're getting there, aren't we? It starts with Ami. The titchy two-seater costs £7,695. Not my cup of tea, if I'm honest. But I do like the open-air Ami Buggy that's coming soon. 9 9 9 Amazing what taking the doors off can do. Ami will zip around for 46 miles, recharges in four hours and has a 28mph top speed. Everything we discuss from here on out has the option of a petrol engine. Which makes them cheaper and more convenient. But today we're talking electric Citroens. The first proper car is the e-C3. Two battery sizes. One that'll do 124 miles for £20k. One that'll nudge 200 miles for £22k. Not as cool as a Renault 5 but loads more space in the back. There's a C3 van coming soon. Next up is the £23k e-C3 Aircross, a C3 that has been s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d by 30cm to make the cabin even roomier. The petrol has a seven-seat option. But not the EV. The e-C4 is a £28k family hatchback. Not a faux SUV. I already like it. The French VW Golf if you like. The 51kWh version gives you 156hp under your right foot and a range of about 256 miles. Copy and paste the £29k e-C4 X, a saloon with a big boot. Finally, the £35k e-C5 Aircross is Citroen's new flagship arriving in September. Same menu of motors and batteries as a Vauxhall Grandland but with French styling, an upright touchscreen and a squishier ride. The biggest 97kWh battery nudges 422 miles. One thing I will say is that all these cars are super comfy with sofa-like seats and pillow-soft suspension. That's the Citroen way. They're also priced to sell. Citroen UK boss Greg Taylor said: 'We're never going to be the cheapest but equally, as other brands have pushed further upmarket, a white space has been created and that's where we sit. 'The cars look good, they're comfortable, they have the right level of technology, and people can afford them. 'We have five cars under 30 grand you can buy today. So they're not coming in six months. They're not coming in 18 months. They're here today. 'No one else can say that.' This summer Citroen will be launching a service-activated eight-year warranty. Another bright idea. 9 9 9
