- McDonald's Corp. announced that it will spend $1.2 billion on capital expenses in 2003, down from its original projection of $1.9 billion. In 2002, the company invested about $2 billion on capital expenses.
The New York Times reports this morning that CEO James R. Cantalupo told investors that he would focus on the basics: customer service, clean restaurants, and reliable, appealing food. He pledged “to inject new energy into the company by increasing marketing efforts, introducing products and focusing on new demographic groups, particularly women and young adults,” according to the NYT.
A shift in momentum is expected to take 12-18 months.
- Heinz announced that it will introduce a new color to its EZ Squirt ketchup rainbow -- Stellar Blue. It is the latest addition to Heinz's lineup of colored condiments, which has included traditional Red, Blastin' Green, Funky Purple and Mystery Color. Stellar Blue was chosen because it was the most requested condiment color that Heinz has yet to produce.
It is a limited edition product introduction, with only half a million bottles of produced.
- United Airlines, bankrupt and doing everything it can to stay aloft in the friendly skies, now is charging an extra buck ($4 total) for a Budweiser, and has restored hot breakfasts, including omelets and egg sandwiches, on transcontinental flights.
- KC's View:
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A note on this last story, if we may.
We flew United coast-to-coast several times recently, and had that hot breakfast.
We can vouch for the fact that it is hot. But it only barely resembles food.
