SWOT Analysis of McDonald’s

Swot analysis of McDonald’s. McDonald’s Corporation is a US fast-food chain company. Maurice McDonald, Ray Kroc, and Richard laid the foundation of the company on May 15, 1940, in San Bernardino, California. The headquarter of the company is in Chicago, Illinois, US.

Some of the main products/services of McDonald’s are;

• Wraps,
• Hamburgers,
• Breakfast,
• Chicken,
• Coffee,
• French Fries,
• Pancake,
• Soft Drinks,
• Desserts,
• Milkshakes,
• Salads

According to a statistical estimate, the annual revenue of McDonald’s in 2022 was 23.183 billion dollars, and it has increased by approximately 0.17%. Out of which the net income of the company was 6.177 billion dollars, and it has reduced by 18.13%.

Approximately 205,000 employees were working for the company by the end of 2019. McDonald’s had approximately 38695 chains of restaurants in more than 120 countries across the world. The brand serves food to roundabout 69 million people daily worldwide.

Some of the major competitors of McDonald’s are;

• Burger King,
• Subway,
• Chick-Fil-A,
• Chipotle,
• KFC,
• Wendy’s,
• Shake Shack

Today, we’ll discuss the swot analysis of McDonald’s. We’ll focus on the internal strengths/weaknesses and external opportunities/threats of the chain of fast-food company. If you want to learn about the external factors, check out the pestle analysis of McDonald’s. Here’s the swot analysis of McDonald’s;

Strengths of McDonald’s 

Unique Taste

Whether it’s French fries, hamburgers, or some other product, McDonald’s has the reputation of providing the best unique taste in its products. It’s one of the strongest suits of the brand. That’s why it attracts the attention of millions of customers across the world.

Valuable Brand

According to the ranking of Forbes and Interbrand, McDonald’s has the position of 10th and 9th respectively of the world’s most valuable brand in 2020. The market worth of the company is approximately 40.3 billion dollars. If you compare McDonald’s market worth with the competition in the fast-food industry, the maintaining of its position is remarketing.

Tech Usage

McDonald’s has recently launched the latest tech tool at its hotels and restaurants. Like self-servicing kiosks, payment systems, and mobile ordering are some of its examples. The usage of technology at its restaurants provides a glimpse of the tech future and what it would look like.

Real Estate Business of McDonald’s

A few people know that McDonald’s is running a very successful multi-billion dollar real-estate business. It’s along with the sale of fast food and the chain of the restaurant business. The brand owns thousands of prime locations across the world.

Running two businesses side-by-side has helped the company to diversify its resources. According to an estimate, McDonald’s has got 38,695 chains of fast-food location points worldwide in 2020. The statistical figures of 2018, the brand owned approximately more than 855 hotels and restaurants in 120 countries.

The franchising business model of McDonald’s works a bit differently. The company provides ingredients, recipes, and brand names to its franchisees. The brand also plays the role of a landlord by renting out the building.

Brand Awareness

McDonald’s is operating its business across the world and it has the advantage of brand awareness. According to an estimate, the brand serves food to approximately more than 69 million people daily. The company owns prime locations and customers are familiar with the brand name and logo.

McDonald’s spends millions of dollars annually on advertisements, promotional campaigns, and other marketing campaigns on social and digital media to attract the attention of people. That’s how the company has achieved the highest level of brand awareness.

Acquiring Tech Startup

McDonald’s has recently acquired an Israeli startup company by the name of “Dynamic Yield.” It helps the brand to improve customization and personalized marketing. As a result, McDonald’s can improve the customers’ experience with more personalized service.

Fast Service

According to an estimate by Statista, McDonald’s provides record-high quick service in the fast-food industry. The company earned the highest sales of 40.41 billion dollars in the US market in 2019 because of its QSR (quick service restaurants).

Quality Control Standards

People may have different tastes and customer experiences. One thing they all agree on is that McDonald’s follows quality standards and health protocols. The brand also makes sure that the suppliers are providing healthy ingredients.

McDonald’s has recently lowered the use of high-value human antibiotics. It was according to the standards of the WHO (world health organization). Many public health organizations appreciated this policy and step of the brand.

Global Network

McDonald’s has a network of 38695 fast-food hotels and restaurants in more than 120 countries across the world. The brand is operating its business in countries like Russia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Korea, Poland, China, Italy, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. The global presence in developed countries is one of the reasons behind the survival of the brand.

Weaknesses of McDonald’s 

Interrupted Supply Chain

McDonald’s serves fast-food to millions of customers every day. It makes the hotels and restaurants of the brand crowdie and busiest places in the fast-food industry. The company faces the issue of limited availability of ingredient supplies.

The disruption in the supply chain results in the form of increasing expenses. The increase in cost would increase the sale, and decrease the company’s revenue and profitability.  

Franchising Model

McDonald’s is following the franchising business model internationally. The company has a complicated chain of brand-owned hotels and restaurants and other networks of franchisees. It creates issues like revenue loss, customer dissatisfaction, mismanagement, and financial deterioration.

Most importantly, McDonald’s relies on its franchises for revenue. They operate independently without any control of the parent brand on daily operations. It directly impacts the growth and profitability of the brand.

Breakfast Menu

McDonald’s has been on the winning streak of the sale breakfast menu for nearly a decade in the US market. The CEO of the company admitted the fact in May 2018 that the consumption and sale of breakfast haven’t remained the same as they used to be.

The brand must do something to regain its market share. The fast-food market has become very competitive and it won’t be easy for the company.

Unsatisfied Employees

Employees worldwide have been protesting for better working conditions and increased wages. They aren’t satisfied with their employers. Many employees of McDonald’s have gone protesting and striking against the company for increasing the minimum wage up to 15 dollars. The backlash, protests, and strikes have jeopardized the reputation of the brand.

CEO got fired

McDonald’s has fired its CEO, Steve Easterbrook for having a consensual affair with an employee of the company. It was against the company’s policy. The board decided to let Steve go because he had shown poor judgment of character.

Relying on the Western Market

McDonald’s has a network of hotels and restaurants across the world. The majority of the company’s revenue comes from western markets like Canada, France, Germany, the US, and the UK. The brand also has a network in countries like India, Singapore, China, and Malaysia. But they aren’t developed as the western markets are.

Opportunities available to McDonald’s 

Expanding Globally

McDonald’s has dominated the US market by putting more focus on it. But the company has always had difficulties in the international market. The expansion in the global market has great growth potential and it would pay off well. It’s time that the brand should start focusing on the global market rather than just the US market.  

Innovative Menu

McDonald’s shouldn’t become monotonous with its routine menu. The brand should add new items and innovative products to its menu. It would maintain the customers’ excitement and increase the company’s sales.

For instance, McDonald’s launched an exclusive service drink by the name of “MIX by Sprite Tropic Berry” in New York in 2018. It became so successful that the brand started serving it in other states as well. The thing the company should keep in mind is relevant to the culture and geography, the menu would maintain the charm.

Economical Meal

McDonald’s introduced an economic price menu of the 1-dollar, 2-dollar, 3-dollar menu, and 5-dollar Mix and match deals. It attracted the attention of the price-conscious customer market. Such a menu increases the sale of the company.

Online Ordering & Delivery

The pandemic crisis, lockdown, the shutdown of businesses, and social distancing have limited people to their houses. Such an environment has promoted the culture of online shopping and e-commerce.

McDonald’s has recently partnered up with Door Dash and UberEats for the delivery of food in the US. The online ordering, mobile application, and home delivery service are great steps for the company. They would help the fast-food brand to reach more customers and increase its market share.  

Brand Image

Many health critics have labeled fast food as junk food. McDonald’s should play it smartly by introducing healthy and customized food offers to the customers. Such initiatives have shown positive outcomes with more sales and profitability. Now McDonald’s should rebuild its image of being a healthy brand.

Digital Marketing

We are living in a world of digital and social media. McDonald’s is already using social media platforms like Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for marketing purposes. The brand should put more focus on digital marketing. It would help the company to increase customers’ engagement, find out their choices, and launch the product accordingly.

Threats McDonald’s has to face 

Local Cultural Conflict

McDonald’s is operating its business in more than 100 countries across the world. The company has had some conflicts with local cultures in different regions. Such conflicts are threatening the brand image. For instance, the brand had issues in Muslim countries over “halaal” meat as an ingredient.

The cultural conflicts make it difficult for the company to maintain its brand image worldwide and operate the business effectively.

Competitive Market

Chick-fil-A, KFC, Chipotle, and Burger King are some of the main competitors of McDonald’s. Their increasing sale and growth rate is a great threat to the company.

Risky Tech Investment

McDonald’s has recently made a huge investment in acquiring the tech startup company and other tech tools. But they could turn out to be very risky if they don’t deliver the required results. It’s because the public isn’t yet ready to accept and adapt to technological changes in hotels and restaurants. Only time would tell whether they’re successful or not.

Environmental Issues

McDonald’s is also facing great pressure from environmentalists and eco-friendly customers to reduce waste. They demand that the company should take eco-friendly steps and set an example for other brands.

For instance, environmental activists protested and demanded that the brand shouldn’t use plastic straws at its locations points across the world. Plastic straws are polluting the environment.

New Trends of Fast-food

The young generation considers the menu of McDonald’s to be the taste of the old school and conventional. Wendy’s and Shake Shack are offering experimented recopies and a variety of menus up to the taste of the young demographic.

For instance, the “Signature-Crafted Burgers” of Wendy’s has won the market share and McDonald’s couldn’t compete against it. The brand had no choice but to return to conventional Quarter Pounders to save the market share whatever was left behind.

Conclusion: McDonald’s Swot Analysis Example Company

After a careful study of the swot analysis of McDonald’s, we have concluded that McDonald’s is indeed a market leader in the fast-food hotels and restaurant business. The brand should launch a new product menu, avoid cultural issues, and use digital marketing tools to compete in the market; while paying heed on the internal strengths weaknesses; external opportunities threats of fast-food swot analysis example company.