1851 Franchising Weekly Rewind

Easterbrook Holds First McDonald’s Shareholder Meeting
At his first annual shareholder’s meeting as CEO of McDonald’s, Steve Easterbrook received a rough reception. During the meeting, teaching, labor and public health advocates all questioned Easterbrook and McDonald’s about many issues, some including the destruction of rainforests, the role McDonald’s plays in school and the obesity epidemic in the U.S. During the meeting, Easterbrook defended the fast-food giant and repeated that he wants to remake McDonald’s into a “progressive” purveyor of hamburgers and fries.
(From CBS News)

L.A. to Raise Minimum Wage to $15 per Hour
The nation’s second largest city voted Tuesday to lift the minimum wage from $9 an hour to $15 an hour by 2020. The city council passed the legislation in a 14-to-1 vote. This will be the most significant victory to date for labor groups who have been pushing for a national raise in the minimum wage. It’s expected this will dramatically affect the area, as it is currently estimated that almost 50 percent of Los Angeles’ workforce earns less than $15 an hour.
(From The New York Times)

7-Eleven Acquires Tedeschi Food Shop
On Monday, Dallas-based 7-Eleven purchased Tedeschi Food Shop for an undisclosed amount. The deal is expected to close by mid-2015. Tedeschi was founded in 1923 as an Italian meat and cheese shop by Angelo Tedeschi. The company grew to operate 182 stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Currently, 7-Eleven operates nearly 10,500 stores in North America with 164 franchise locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
(From Boston.com)

Consumers are Concerned about the Bird Flu
According to The NPD Group, more than half of American consumers are concerned about the avian flu (bird flu) outbreak and its potential food safety dangers. This is in relation to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlining 160 cases involving three deadly strains of bird flu. This current outbreak has spread across 16 states and has hit more than 8 percent of the U.S. layer hen population.
(From Fast Casual)

Jurassic World Hits Dairy Queen*
In celebration of the newest installment of the Jurassic Park franchise, Dairy Queen has announced a strategic marketing partnership for “Jurassic World.” Starting May 25, 2015, the brand will be introducing fans to “Jurassic World”-inspired Blizzard cups. Fans will also be able to enjoy the Jurassic Smash Blizzard Treat and the Jurassic Snack Wrap Duo.
(From QSR Magazine)