Verified Document

Mcdonald's And Hardee's Case Study

McDonald's And Hardees In a recent visit to two competing fast food franchise restaurants, McDonald's and Hardees, there were many different operational processes that were identified. For example, McDonald's has a more diversified menu that caters to more consumers while Hardees by contrast seems to utilize more of a niche strategy. Both operations seem fairly efficient and effective towards the operational goals that they seem to promote. I think they are both offering the products that they should be. McDonalds has a larger menu and Hardees has more of a targeted niche.

Each organization utilizes technology to meet their operational objectives and operates efficiently based on these objectives. Between the two operations, McDonald's seem to have the technological edge however and their operations are streamlined through a dedication to operational excellence that uses advanced technological systems as a foundation for its business functions. McDonalds must be more efficient to offer the more comprehensive product mix in a timely manner relative to Hardees however. Yet Hardees could be deemed more effective because they have exploited a premium burger niche. This paper will compare and contrast some of the differences that were identified in these two organizations. Each organization should focus on supply chain management and mass customization.

Product Lineup

McDonalds and Hardees offer very different product mixes. McDonald's have a more comprehensive menu offering that can be divided into the following categories (McDonalds, N.d.):

Burgers and Sandwiches

Chicken and Fish

Breakfast

Salads

Snacks and Sides

Desserts and Shakes

McCafe

McDonald's has been the subject of...

McDonald's has proactively defended their reputation in the past by opening libel suits against people who have tried to publish activist literature that points out some of the negative aspects to the food they serve and the way the company operates. It is clear from its current product mix that McDonald's has taken steps to improve its nutritional stance in its product mix and offers many products that are healthier than previous generations of product mixes such as salads and fresh fruit. McDonalds has attempted to improve their health quality by making their menu's more kid friendly, expanding the menu nutritionally, as well as increasing the access to nutrition (Nunez, 2011).
Hardees by contrast focus on a "restaurant-style" burger which serves as the focus of its product mix. The company offers a little over twenty different styles of charbroiled burgers which are the focal point of the product mix. The company boasts its premium "six dollar" burger that is made from one hundred percent Black Angus. This burger is touted as a more sit down restaurant that is available in the traditional franchised fast food format. Hardees has continued to develop this strategy and offers a wide range of different products that focus on this specific niche. McDonald's previously had tried to compete in the gourmet burger niche however had relatively mixed success. As one critique explained when McDonald's eventually took their Angus burger off the menu (Wong, 2013):

"You can't be the premium and the discount product place. [McDonald's] had to make a choice and they chose to be a discount product place," Puzder says. "It really leaves the premium, sit-down, restaurant-quality burger at a fast food joint to…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Higuera, V. (N.d.). Seasonal Factors Affecting the Restaurant Industry. Retrieved from Small Business Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/seasonal-factors-affecting-restaurant-industry-31192.html

McDonalds. (N.d.). Full Menu Explorer. Retrieved from McDonalds: http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/full_menu/full_menu_explorer.html

Nunez, A. (2011, July 26). McDonalds To Announce Improved Commitment To Nutrition. Retrieved from Shape Magazine: http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/mcdonalds-announce-improved-commitment-nutrition

Wong, V. (2013, June 5). Carl's Jr., Hardee's Are Wooing McDonald's 'Deprived' Angus Eaters. Retrieved from Bloomburg Business Week: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-06-05/carl-s-jr-dot-hardees-woo-mcdonalds-deprived-angus-lovers
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Competition Between Mcdonald's, Burger King,
Words: 9987 Length: 36 Document Type: Dissertation

, 2005; Biddle et al., 2009). Companies with more accurate financial reporting and greater control over reporting activities tend to perform better and demonstrate greater cohesion in their operations, as well, and also tend to lean towards more consistent profitability and stability, in addition (Graham et al., 2005; Doyle et al., 2007; Doyle et al., 2007a). Investment levels in firms with more consistent and accurate financial reports were also found

What Is the Cause of the Obesity Crisis
Words: 1721 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Obesity WHY ARE WE SO FAT? Whole books have been written (and movies made) about why Americans are becoming the obesity leaders of the Western world. Some people point to biology. Others blame the restaurants, particularly the fast-food ones. Yet others suggest that we are fat, and lazy, and unmotivated to take control of our weight. Each of these arguments has its merits, and there is probably a lot of truth to

Mcdonaldization of Society Ritzer, George.
Words: 2336 Length: 7 Document Type: Research Proposal

A white collar worker at the managerial level may find it difficult to market him or herself as unique outside of the corporate hierarchy after being downsized. Even physicians, plumbers, and other individuals that practice certain 'trades' may find their professions standardized and their skill's inherent worth downgraded, as franchised service industries become more popular. Jiffy Lube has replaced the independent mechanic just like Starbucks has replaced the corner

Health Concept Analysis Health From
Words: 5047 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

According to the U.S.A. Today (Borenstein, 2007), the latest IPCC report states that within twenty years "hundreds of millions of people won't have enough water." And while safe drinking water may not be available to those millions of people, tens of millions of others will be "flooded out of their homes each year" as rising temperatures cause polar ice caps to melt. "Tropical diseases like malaria will spread" and in

Popularity of Foreign Restaurant: Consumer Attitude and
Words: 7176 Length: 27 Document Type: Literature Review

popularity of foreign restaurant: consumer attitude and behavior toward foreign cuisines in Bangkok Thailand as a tourist destination Thailand has become a tourist destination hotspot for its scenic beauty, the humble nature of their people, and the relative value of foreign currencies relative to the baht. According to EIU ViewsWire (2003), "Growth in the tourism industry in recent years was the result of the depreciation of the baht against non-Asian currencies

Childhood Obesity Is a Growing
Words: 612 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

A survey of some of the nation's most popular fast-food restaurants revealed numerous high calorie, high fat, and trans fat in children's menu food selections. Helm found the fast-food restaurant Bojangles had an offering that was 841 kcal and had more than 16 grams of fat, with information on trans fat not available. Kentucky Fried Chicken had the offering with the highest level of trans fat. Their children's offering had

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now