McDonald's Just Got Some Surprising New Competition From A Company That's Suddenly A Huge Threat

Inc. Magazine ^ | September 10, 2019 | Chris Matyszczyk

[2ndDivisionVet]

The trouble with too many fast-food restaurants is that they're often so close together.

It's like car dealers who line up in auto malls, waiting for customers to greet each brand in turn, as if it's a wedding line.

With the fast-food joints, rivals can see what the competition is doing by just looking out of the window. Which makes me wonder what the staff at McDonald's are going to be thinking next year.

You see, one of McDonald's peskier rivals -- Wendy's -- just announced that it's going to start doing something that may seem a touch obvious.

It's going to start offering breakfast at all of its 5,900 U.S. restaurants.

Wendy's describes this as "an incredible growth opportunity."

[steve86]

Your drinking coffee with breakfast seems just as weird to me as my drinking Diet Coke must seem to you. But I have never in my life seen anyone eating donuts for breakfast.

[dfwgator]

Shame, because by all accounts, Dave Thomas was a good man.

[Cvengr]

Wendy’s used to offer a great breakfast omelette with hash brown potato coins bacon and cheese and green onion and coffee. One of their better offers

[dfwgator]

LOL, how is the ghetto crowd that wakes up at 3 in the afternoon going to get their breakfast now?

[steve86]

“It used to offer breakfast, was far better than McDonalds, but discontinued it, think in the late 80’s”

Virtually their entire customer base disagreed and the whole sordid tale is used as a “How Not To” case study in business schools.

[be-baw]

Isn’t that what killed Dave?

[be-baw]

“In this area Hardees is the top chain for breakfast.”

I think the closest Hardees from me is about 40 miles yonder. I know I’ve tried them before, but didn’t have anything memorable. I would definitely like to try their breakfast sandwiches though.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Making me hungry.

[dfwgator]

Ditch the buns, and you’ve got pure Keto Heaven, right there.

[SunkenCiv]

Love Wendy’s, but hard to beat a McGriddle.

McDonald’s to Acquire Apprente, An Early Stage Leader in Voice Technology
September 10, 2019
https://news.mcdonalds.com/news-releases/news-release-details/McDonalds/acquire/apprente

[be-baw]

Homefried eggs is the food I eat most. I eat it with toast, and I’m guessing you don’t.

I can’t do it all in 7 min though. It takes me 5 min to preheat the pan. It took me a while to learn how to cook consistently good sunny side up eggs, but I’m finally there. I believe you though that you can get it done and cleaned up in 7 min. You probably cook them over a higher heat, and I’m guessing you flip them.

[Dr. Sivana]

ut I have never in my life seen anyone eating donuts for breakfast.

What does your church serve after early morning Mass/service ... bagels?

Seriously, there are sizeable businesses that exist ONLY on coffee and doughnuts for breakfast ... Krispy Kreme, Tim Horton's (formerly Dunkin' Donuts), and ma and pa places (here in Phoenix we have Bosa's, Scottsdale Doughnuts, Hi-Ho, Liberty, Lemans, Rainbow, and who knows how many others I don't even know of?)

Washington Irving writes of doughnuts in 1807! You should try some. Maybe a jelly filled or a French Cruller.

[Dr. Sivana]

[minnesota_bound]

McDonald’s big breakfast is half the size of Jack in the Box.
Number of burger joints and sales.
https://www.qsrmagazine.com/content/qsr50-2018-burger-segment

[SamAdams76]

I toss a pat of Kerrygold Irish butter into the non-stick and put to medium high heat. Once the butter melts (under a minute), I crack the eggs and toss them in and turn to medium heat. During the next two and a half minutes, I toss the berries into the yogurt and eat that. I then flip the eggs and turn off the heat after about 30 seconds. I then toss the empty yogurt container and plate the eggs. I rinse the pan and spatula over hot water, towel dry, and then eat the eggs. Rinse the plate, put in dishwasher, and head off to work.

Pretty much 7 minutes! If I'm not out the door by 5:45, I have a good chance of missing my train. Very little margin for error.

I guess I could get up a little earlier but I like my sleep too.

[dfwgator]

I remember that story.

[be-baw]

Thanks! I will definitely try that. Just need more practice flipping eggs. Hey, you can’t make an omelet unless you break a few yolks, right? Besides eggs are cheap. I get them at Kroger for 85 cents/dozen for large eggs. Hard to find more economical nutrition.

Speaking of yogurt I tried Greek (Chobani) yogurt for the first time last week. Didn’t care for it at all. Too thick and had a grainy texture. I’ll stick with the cheap store brand version of Dannon ($1.99/qt)

[steve86]

“What does your church serve after early morning Mass/service ... bagels?”

The Holy Eucharist is the first and last “Item” offered, under the appearance of bread and wine. We just go home after Latin Mass or maybe to a restaurant or work.

None of those chains or local operations exist here except Krispy Kreme, and they open at 10:30. I guess breakfast traditions are a regional thing.

Well, enjoy yours tomorrow morning, even if it seems like alien fare to me.

I’ve certainly had tasty donuts but the thought would never occur to me until much later in the day.

[Larry Lucido]

Wendy’s did breakfast back in 1985. Omelets to order, breakfast sandwiches, and “hash rounds.” Pretty decent, actually. I was disappointed they ever stopped. Hope they go with the omelets again.

[steve86]

P.S. Now I think I remember being served “doughnuts” on an early east coast Amtrak run many decades ago and it totally perplexed me.