Latest news with #McDonald's'
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I went to the world's most beautiful McDonald's but the shine quickly wore off'
The world's most beautiful McDonald's has everything from chandeliers to Art Deco interiors and it's all over social media - but we wanted to see if it lives up to the hype When I'm on holiday, McDonald's isn't typically on the itinerary, unless I'm tight on time and trying to grab something quick and easy amidst sightseeing. However, on a recent city break to Porto the fast food restaurant was one of the top items on my list of must-visits, because the Portuguese city is home to what's been dubbed the 'world's most beautiful McDonald's'. I'd seen it all over my social media feeds, and knew I wanted to go and check it out to see if it lived up to the hype. After all, I was promised glitzy chandeliers, amazing Art Deco interiors, and a setting that wouldn't be out of place in a film set. The restaurant is located in a former café, and McDonald's kept most of the original features when it first opened its doors in the 1990s. (It's not quite as lively as the one that boasts a DJ until 4am). When I arrived at the McDonald's Imperial, things were already promising as the entrance alone feels quite grandiose. There's a huge statue of an eagle and a large brass sign reading 'McDonald's' as you walk up towards the door. Once inside, it was quite impressive to look at. The shimmering chandeliers and the huge Art Deco artwork on the wall behind the counter are pretty eye-catching, and like most of the tourists around me, I quickly whipped out my phone to film some of the interiors. However, the shine quickly wears off. The restaurant appears to be quite big when you walk in, but it's actually because the walls are covered in huge mirrors. The actual amount of seating available is quite limited. Rather than a film set, I felt more like we were in a theme park as we had to join the throng trying to get to the kiosks to order their food. We were lucky enough to bag ourselves a table, but I did see a few people circling for a while. I was concerned that we might end up waiting ages for food, but it all arrived fairly promptly. While the decor is beautiful, the furniture itself is just bog standard McDonald's; perfectly fine, but definitely felt a little jarring compared to the interiors. Unsurprisingly everyone is taking photos and videos, so it can feel a little chaotic as you try and get from counter to table, and we definitely felt that we were in a tourist spot. Still, it's not surprising that it's a hit with visitors as the eatery boasts a brilliant central location right by heaps of Porto's main attractions including the Livraria Lello (a beautiful bookshop that looks like something out of Harry Potter), the beautiful Sao Bento station, and the Douro River which is about a 15-minute walk away. (FYI: No doubt because of the crowds and central location, if you want to use the loos you'll need to buy food in order to get a toilet door code). One major perk of the whole experience for me was that while we don't have gluten-free meals in the UK (sort it out McDonald's please), I was genuinely excited to see that there was a full gluten-free menu on offer in Porto. That meant that for the first time since being diagnosed, I could actually have a Big Mac and it was absolutely glorious. (You'll just need to head to the counter for a member of staff to take the order as you can't order it yourself at the kiosk). While I'm not going to start chasing down every pretty McDonald's in the world, I've since been assured that if I head to Rome, I should add the Piazza Di Spagna restaurant on my list; apparently it has marble walls, fountains and statues. So I guess that's my next adventure sorted!
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Body of woman in her 30s found at home after ‘car crashed into McDonald's' as cops arrest man on suspicion of murder
Anyone with information is urged to contact police immediately 'MURDER' PROBE Body of woman in her 30s found at home after 'car crashed into McDonald's' as cops arrest man on suspicion of murder Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE BODY of a 30-year-old woman has been found at a home after a car crashed into a McDonald's — leading police to arrest a man on suspicion of murder. Northamptonshire Police have confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman's body was discovered in Burton Latimer. Officers said they received reports of a man crashing a blue Skoda Superb at a McDonald's on Folley Way at around 3.30pm on June 13. Police arrived at the scene, which led to the discovery of a woman in her 30s found dead at an address on Donnington Road. The East Midlands Special Operations Unit has launched a murder investigation and is appealing for anyone with information to come forward. A local resident said they saw forensic teams and a heavy police presence in what is usually a quiet town. Police said the 35-year-old man arrested remains in custody and confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder. Neighbourhood policing teams will remain in the area, carrying out regular patrols to reassure the community and encouraging anyone with concerns to speak to them. Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Torie Harrison, of EMSOU, said: 'Following the tragic discovery of a woman's body in Burton Latimer yesterday afternoon, our thoughts and condolences are with everyone who knew and loved her. 'We have established a comprehensive and fast-moving investigation into the circumstances of her death, with one arrest made. "At present we believe this to be an isolated incident with no risk to the wider community. 'I know news of this death will cause immense concern and distress to people in the local area, and we will be maintaining an enhanced presence over the coming days to provide reassurance and support as enquiries continue.' Anyone with information — including CCTV, smart doorbell, or dash-cam footage — is urged to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Popular US fast food giant that ‘wipes the floor with KFC & McDonald's' to open 45 new restaurants in UK this year
Plus, find out all the US fast food joints opening new UK locations CHICK IT OUT Popular US fast food giant that 'wipes the floor with KFC & McDonald's' to open 45 new restaurants in UK this year Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR American fast food chain has secured millions of pounds so it can open 45 new restaurants in the UK. Popeyes, which is famous for its crispy fried chicken, already opened 33 locations across the country last year but is planning even more openings this year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Popeyes is known for its crispy fried chicken and its burgers It's one of the fastest-growing chicken restaurants in the fast food sector and already has more than 80 UK locations. Now it has secured £43million from Barclays Corporate Banking to help it open more restaurants. The chain's UK chief finance officer Drew Taylor said: "Barclays are a highly supportive banking partner of Popeyes in the UK. "The new finance facilities will enable us to build on our successful growth in the UK to date and execute our expansion strategy over the coming years, with more than 45 openings targeted in 2025 alone." The news will be hugely exciting for fast food fans. Reviewers of Popeyes' current restaurants have said it "wipes kfc and McDonald's to the floor" and they've "never had a bad meal" there. The chain opened its first UK restaurant in 2021 at the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, London. It now wants to expand its presence in cities including Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol as well as opening further locations in Manchester, Liverpool, London and Scotland. These will include dine-in restaurants as well as drive-thru locations and delivery kitchens which will just be for takeaway orders. Popeyes also wants to open restaurants near train stations. Inside Popeye's first UK restaurant as we try the menu – and the fried chicken is better than KFC Which US chains are opening more restaurants? Popeyes is one of numerous US fast food chains expanding into the UK currently. Chick-fil-A opened the first of five new UK restaurants back in January. The restaurant opened inside an Applegreen service station in Lisburn, County Antrim, on the Lisburn South motorway. It confirmed to The Sun previously it would launch in Northern Ireland, Leeds, Liverpool and London. Wingstop also has plans to open 20 more UK sites this year. These include dine-in restaurants in Swansea, Newcastle, Lakeside shopping centre in Essex, Streatham in south London and Cardigan Fields in Leeds. The chicken wing restaurant opened 18 new locations last year. Californian burger chain Carl's Jr opened its first UK restaurant in April. It's planning to open 100 sites across the country over the next four years. Family entertainment and dining centre Chuck E Cheese is reportedly planning to launch six branches across England and Scotland. The Texas-based business has targeted Milton Keynes, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol as possible locations. Meanwhile Tex-Mex brand Velvet Taco is set to make its UK debut soon. The brand will be opening its first restaurant in Piccadilly Circus, London, and has said it will open more UK sites in the coming years.
Miami Herald
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
McDonald's analyst grills new stock price target on McCrispy reaction
Okay, people, so what do you think of McDonald's' McCrispy Strips? "Hey @McDonalds please stop hyping up your much delayed chicken snack wraps with your new McCrispy strips that have the texture of octopus and the flavor of a tire on a dirt road," one person said on X. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter "You'll never be @Popeyes because they beat you to it, and these were delicious. Give up now, clown." All right, all right, don't sugarcoat it. Tell us how you really McFeel. "Yes," another poster said. "One bite of this clump of hard rubber was enough for me." "to me they were awful. rubbery and not crispy at all. super chewy and no flavor :/," another person declared on Reddit. "They're spongy and soggy," yet another complained. "Never again." Okay, so we're getting a social-media vibe now. And more important, an investment firm is getting a negative buzz as well. Now, to be fair, some people had nice things to say about McCrispy Strips, especially when they're paired with the new creamy chili dip. And many customers liked MCD's use of 100% white meat. "McDonald's promised that the strips are made with 'juicy, 100% white meat' and they weren't lying," Leah Groth wrote in on April 30. "McDonald's promised that the strips are made with 'juicy, 100% white meat' and they weren't lying," Leah Groth wrote in Eat This Not That on April 30. "While the uber-popular McNugget is made from ground chicken meat and shaped into a dippable form, the McCrispy is an actual strip of whole chicken meat, putting McDonald's on the shortlist of fast-food chains that use real chicken for their tenders," she added. Groth called the McCrispy tasty and spicy without the help of a dip, but she added that the creamy chili dip "seriously elevated the taste to next-level status." McDonald's (MCD) unveiled McCrispy Strips in April, and on May 5 they became available at all participating restaurants nationwide. The move marked the first time since 2021 that the fast-food giant introduced a permanent menu item in the U.S. Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski told analysts during the first-quarter-earnings call in May that the launch of McCrispy Chicken Strips should contribute to growth. But he warned that "we remain cautious about the overall health of the consumer. Related: McDonald's CEO sounds alarm on major customer problem "We entered 2025 knowing that it would be a challenging time for the [quick-service-restaurant] industry, due to macroeconomic uncertainty and pressures weighing on the consumer. "During the first quarter, geopolitical tensions added to the economic uncertainty and dampened consumer sentiment more than we expected." While the Chicago company narrowly beat Wall Street's earnings expectations for the quarter, revenue fell short and U.S. same-store sales shrank 3.6%, the worst showing since the 8.7% tumble of Q2 2020 and the Covid pandemic lockdown. McDonald's shares are up 6.3% in 2025 and up 18% from a year ago. "The key for us now for the balance of the year is about execution," Kempczinski said. "And in an environment where there is a pressured consumer, you've got to simply outexecute your competitors. "And that means you've got to outexecute them on your value programs, you've got to outexecute them when it comes to marketing and menu innovation." Kempczinski talked about a halo benefit from the McCrispy to set up the reintroduction of the Snack Wrap, which is slated to return to McDonald's menus on July 10. But Loop Capital analyst Alton Stump wasn't so sure and downgraded McDonald's to hold from buy and cutting his price target to $315 from $346. Related: Popular chicken chain launches its version of McDonald's wraps The analyst said on June 6 that he had "growing concerns" that McDonald's' domestic comparison growth profile would not rebound as much as expected over the remainder of 2025. Customer feedback about the chicken strips has to date been predominantly negative, he said. That does not bode well ahead of McDonald's pending Snack Wrap introduction, which will include the new chicken strip, he said. Stump said he'd based his prior positive view of the shares on the company's ability to rejuvenate U.S. same-store sales via these two new products. McDonald's did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Related: Fund-management veteran skips emotion in investment strategy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
With 76% ownership, McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) boasts of strong institutional backing
Institutions' substantial holdings in McDonald's implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price 48% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders Recent sales by insiders We've found 21 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free. Every investor in McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 76% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about McDonald's. Check out our latest analysis for McDonald's Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. We can see that McDonald's does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see McDonald's' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in McDonald's. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is The Vanguard Group, Inc. with 9.8% of shares outstanding. With 7.3% and 4.8% of the shares outstanding respectively, BlackRock, Inc. and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders. A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our information suggests that McDonald's Corporation insiders own under 1% of the company. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own US$146m worth of shares. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. The general public-- including retail investors -- own 24% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Be aware that McDonald's is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about... Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
