McDonald’s Corporation, one of the world’s largest food chains, has announced financial results for the third quarter ended 30 September 2011. The company posted higher revenues, operating income and earnings per share compared with the prior year. McDonald’s Corporation reported that its global comparable sales increased 5 per cent, with the US business up 4.4 per cent, Europe up 4.9 per cent and Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa up 3.4 per cent. McDonald’s Chief Executive Officer... ...Read more »

In an interesting development today, fast food chain Hungry Jack’s announced that it would be offering broccoli alongside its burgers. Aaron McKie, CEO of Hungry Jack’s said the broccoli would be served as part of a vegetable medley comprising carrot, celery and capsicum sticks, hand-cut and served fresh in a cup supplying a full serve of vegetables. It will be accompanied by an optional hommus dip in a mini tub. “Salad Stix can only be described as a nutritional goldmine,” Mr McKie said.... ...Read more »

The National Heart Foundation of Australia today announced it will be ending its Tick licensing program in the takeaway food environment. Heart Foundation CEO Dr Lyn Roberts said, “We knew working in this area would be a bold move – and it was – but our work behind the scenes has seen massive improvements across the food supply chain, including healthier oils now being used in many takeaway and catering food outlets. “This even led to a change in the type of canola grown by Australian... ...Read more »

McDonald’s UK is the latest multinational chain to display the calorific content of items on its UK menus. Australian Food News can reveal that McDonald’s Australia plans to follow suit by displaying the kilojoule content of items on its restaurant menus across Australia later this year. McDonald’s UK is supporting a UK government initiative to tackle obesity by introducing calorific content information to its UK restaurant menus. Others supporting the UK initiative include KFC, Pizza Hut and... ...Read more »

Two of Australia’s largest fast food chains, McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s, will not be following KFC’s lead by removing toys from their children’s meals. Both told Australian Food News that they will continue to provide toys with their children’s meals. McDonald’s Australia’s Skye Oxenham said, “We don’t have any plans to remove our toys. McDonalds Australia has already done a lot in terms of introducing healtheir options to Happy Meals.... ...Read more »

Plans by McDonald’s Corporation to expand its store network in China could spell good news for Australia’s beef producers. The fast food chain plans to bring the number of its restaurants in China from 1,356 to 2,000 by 2013 and, according to McDonald’s Australia, Australia’s beef producers are well placed to benefit from the expansion. McDonald’s Australia’s Skye Oxenham told Australian Food News, “Australia is already one of the largest beef suppliers to the McDonald’s system worldwide,... ...Read more »

British Medical Journal website reports a new study has found one in six fast food customers in New York City have used calorie information and, on average, bought food with lower calories since the 2008 introduction of a new labelling system. Labelling requirements for chain restaurants In response to the growing problem of obesity, New York had implemented a law in 2008 to apply to all chain restaurants with 15 or more branches nationally. The law stipulated that such chain restaurants must provide... ...Read more »

A new survey by the Good Food & Wine Show has revealed some interesting truths about Australian eaters: our most influential culinary icon is Margaret Fulton, but we wish we were Nigella or Jamie; we’re nostalgic for dishes like Beef Stroganoff and prawn cocktail; more than half of us eat take-away more than once a week (with Thai food the most popular); we claim not to like KFC or McDonalds when eating out; we eat chocolate and mashed potato for comfort food; and Cab Sav and Sav Blanc... ...Read more »

The Fair Work Ombudsman and McDonald’s Australia have embarked on a new national initiative designed to ensure employee pay packets for McDonald’s 85,000-strong national workforce are accurate. McDonald’s, in collaboration with the Fair Work Ombudsman, has set up a self-audit process to review about 8500 pay packets and correct any issues it may find, which the quick-service restaurant chain says is in line with its goal of being an employer of choice for young people, and operating its business... ...Read more »

Food businesses around Australia have pitched in for relief efforts in the Queensland floods, offering donations, matching employee contributions, allowing customers to donate directly, and supplying food for those affected and volunteers. Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths have both allowed customers to donate to flood charities at point of sale, with Coles raising $2.6 million and donating a further $1 million to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal, and Woolworths raising over $5.3 million... ...Read more »