McDonald's profit slumps, sales fall worldwide

And the problem is none of their menu is truly noteworthy.

I chuckled at this. After decades of attempts to beat McDonald's "Big Mac" sandwich, competitor Burger King recently "threw in the towel" and came out with their OWN sandwich called the "Big King". The sandwich consists of two (presumably all-beef) patties, a sauce remarkably similar to Thousand Island dressing, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed-covered club bun. Yes, ladies and gentleman, Burger King is selling renamed Big Macs!

This is part of the increased competition McDonald's is talking about. I also notice all the other fast food chains (even Taco Bell!) have now started offering breakfast, cutting into McDonald's former supremacy in the fast food breakfast market. Unless McDonald's can figure out another way to stay above the fray, I have no doubt they will be losing more market share.

What is the old saying "If you try to be everything to everybody, you'll end up being nothing to no one".

This is true. There was a local start-up called "Five Guys Burgers and Fries" that expanded across the country in the last couple of decades. Their menu is bare-bones... burgers, fries, and hot dogs. http://www.fiveguys.com/menu.aspx That's all they make, so they get really good at making it.

I also think McDonald's Japan is starting to suffer from competition such as MOS Burger and Lotteria and all those innumerable B-Class gourmet places that serve ramen, soba, udon, curry rice, and so on.

Their problem is that fresher alternatives like Chipotle, Subway, and Panera are just as convenient and don't cost much more.

For many companies it means that 'success' = 'continuous growth and ever-increasing profits'.

So in other words...they're still making money, right???

Income fell...profits fell...but they're still making money, more than a dollar per every McD share out there in the world.

The way some people woul portray it, a company that makes money consistently (even in the face of increased competition and scandals beyond its control, at that) should be considered...failing??? Sheesh..

I don't think they'll ever recover from the China food scandal, to be honest.

I'm heartbroken!

as the home of the “Golden Arches” attracted fewer customers in all major segments

What is the old saying "If you try to be everything to everybody, you'll end up being nothing to no one". McDonald's is a prime example of that. And the problem is none of their menu is truly noteworthy.

What a shame.

@bassfunk: once you see how those fries are made, I think you wont care much anymore. :P

I know, I know...My mom owns a restaurant, worked a few when I was a kid, part-time work, if you know every single detail what goes on, you probably would never eat anything again, truth be told.

They really need to re-think their morning menu. As someone who does not eat pork I cannot understand why they would have only one non-pork item (fish burger) in the morning menu. There are so many days in a month one can look forward to having a bland fish burger. Even if they offered beef burgers in the morning, i would still avoid it because they will only be heating up the beef and pork patties on the same skillet and thus aggravating the situation. Those arguments aside, people looking to eat healthier tend to steer away from McDonalds altogether.

@bassfunk: once you see how those fries are made, I think you wont care much anymore. :P

The only thing I care about are the fries, everything else, I couldn't care less.....maybe the eluded Shamrock shake.

OMG, I need to go there right now eat a bigmac and help this poor company. ;-)