Wednesday, April 22, 2015
NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald's plans to unwrap a plan next month that it says will help turn around ongoing sales declines around the world.
The world's biggest hamburger chain said today global sales declined 2.3 percent at established locations during the first three months of the year. That included a 2.6 percent drop in the U.S., where it is facing changing tastes and tougher competition.
Already this year, McDonald's has announced a number of changes in the U.S. including a simplified grilled chicken recipe, curbing the use of antibiotics in chicken, and a pay bump and vacation time for workers at company-owned stores amid ongoing protests over its treatment of workers.
CEO Steve Easterbrook, who stepped into the role just last month, has said in a statement the company is "keenly focused on acting more quickly to better address today's consumer needs, expectations and the competitive marketplace." But that push is happening at a time when McDonald's is facing intensifying pressures.
A day earlier, Chipotle Mexican Grill said its sales rose 10.4 percent at established locations during the quarter, as a pork shortage and bad weather damped results.