Advocacy Group Asks McDonald's Franchisees To Halt Remodels

“To put it bluntly, stop everything that is not currently in the works,” the franchisee coalition National Owners Association emailed McDonald’s owners this week, according to an article by Nation’s Restaurant News.

The article states that the coalition, which was formed in the late fall and represents over 400 McDonald’s franchisees, is most concerned about eroding profits, lack of control over menu pricing changes, and the cost of the required “Experience of the Future” remodel. Nearly half of the members say the remodel, which includes a service area modernization barrier separating the front counter from the kitchen, does not improve operations or offer value to the customer, according to the article.

McDonald’s pushed back the original 2020 deadline for the remodels in November. The 14,000 U.S. locations currently have until 2022 to complete the project, with costs ranging from $160,000 to $750,000 depending on the scope of the project, according to the article. Operators wrapping up in 2021 or 2022 will reportedly receive less funding than if they finish in 2020, McDonald’s has stated according to the article.

According to the report, Nationals Owners Association said the organization is not against investing in McDonald’s restaurants. The group clarifies that it wants McDonald’s Corp. to listen to owners about what works and what does not work, according to the article.

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