Hamburger Business Review
Hamburger Business Review
Corporate Adaptation
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Corporate Adaptation

S2E4 How did the king of beef make it big in India? Because nothing will stop McDonald's, not even a populace that isn't interested in the food.

Welcome Hamburger Enthusiasts!

Today at Hamburger Business Review we keep talking about politics and burgers, the McTrot, more from inside the hamburger restaurant, and a new case study about what McDonald’s had to do in order to make it work in India.

Illustration by Kriss Knapp

Hamburgers on a Plane

We open with the viral image of Trump forcing RFK Jr. to eat hamburgers which prompted one of the funniest New York Times articles in a while.

We also enjoyed the story of Pharrell Williams getting fired from McDonald’s.

And we have Charlie Munger defending the educational role of McDonald’s.

The Holiday Pie is Back

The holiday pie is back? What is the holiday pie?

McDonald’s says, “It's the greatest gift to yourself—creamy, smooth custard nestled in a flaky, buttery crust glazed with sugar and topped with rainbow sprinkles. There are 260 calories in McDonald's Holiday Pie.”

It was first launched in 1999 and it’s weirdly popular. Mike tries it out and is a little underwhlemed.

And we don’t discuss it on the podcast, but Mike also tried out the McRib.

Chris K’s Tips on Running a Marathon

As Zach prepares for his annual McTrot we look to McDonald’s CEO Chris K. for a little advice:

  • Find Your Fuel

  • Nothing New on Race Day

  • Trust Your Training

If you don’t know what McTrot is… here is Zach explaining it:

Case Study: McDonald’s in India

India has probably the most unique McDonald’s menu of any country. We had a great time talking about this one! It’s all about the 1996 launch of McDonald’s into India, which was weirdly cautious and slow because of how much they had to adapt to the cultural, business, and political factors of the country.

The choices that McDonald’s made to adapt and incorporate into a new culture speaks to the power of a corporate giant and highlights the roadmap to their international expansion.

Next Up: Dating a Hamburger Restaurant Employee

Next week we kick Mike off the mic and talk to his partner Kathryn about what it’s like to date someone working at a Hamburger Restaurant.

If you enjoy Hamburger Business Review you can support us by subscribing, buying merch, or even just buying us a burger.

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Hamburger Business Review
Hamburger Business Review
Analysis and discussion about the business of burgers. Also original reporting and investigation!
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