McDonalds SWOT Analysis

Strengths

• It has a strong global presence and is considered as a market leader in both the domestic as well as the international markets.

• It is a global brand that owns 31,000 restaurants serving in 120 countries. Of these 31,000 restaurants at least14,000 restaurants are situated in the US.

• It uses economies of scale for reducing the cost, as its huge expansion diversifies the overall risk involved with the economic performance.

• They own an active children’s charity by the name‘The Ronald McDonald House’.

• It takes steps in adjusting the Ingredients and product offerings in order to comply with the upgraded health standards deemed necessary by the USDA.

• It earns revenue by fast food sales as well as a property investor and a franchiser of restaurants.

• It has a firm real estate portfolio.

• It has branded menu items i-e Big Mac, Chicken McNuggets, which further promote McDonalds.

• Its recognized as one of the world’s most recognized logos.

• It is recognized as a socially responsible and community oriented firm.

• It adapts to the cultural differences regarding the region where the restaurant is set up.

• It has located itself in major airports, cities, highways, tourist locations, theme parks.

• It has an efficient food preparation style that follows the process in a systematic way.

• It takes food safety extremely cautiously.

• It was the first to provide the customers about nutrition facts.

Weaknesses

• It uses advertising that mostly targets children.

• High employee turn-over.

• It has yet to accomplish going on the trend of organic food.

• Price competition with the competitors resulting in low revenue.

• Lack of innovative products.

Opportunities

• It can adapt to the needs of the societies and undergo an innovative product line.

• It can research ways to use ‘green’ energy and packaging which will work as a part of their promotional effort as well as fulfill their social responsibility.

• It can create new product offerings, use mobile text messaging to offer services that appeal to consumers.

• It can upscale some of its restaurant settings at luxurious locations to attract more customers.

• It can provide optional items that are regarded to be the basis of allergy for some.

• It can slow down the level of expansion in order to increase the profitability of the organization.

Threats

• The recession negatively impacts the holding position of the firm regarding its revenue streams, even though they are quite diversified.

• Foreign currency fluctuations are regarded to be a major problem as it uses standard pricing for its food items.

• More restaurants that are increasing their food offering and declining the price.

• Health issues regarding the fast food chain.

• Heavy investments on promotional campaigns which decrease the gaining of market share.

• Some parents criticize the firm’s ‘cradle to grave’ marketing strategy that focuses on kids, who later on take it as a trend to their adulthood.

• Sued various times for unhealthy food, usually with addictive additives.

• Emergence of major fast food competitors: Burger King, Starbucks, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, KFC.

• The expansion has made the firm vulnerable to the slow economies of the other countries.