Comments on: A Doddsson with cheese and a side of fries http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:07:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hanna http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10575 Hanna Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:45:43 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10575 Good riddance I say to Mcdonald. Icelanders are better without this junkfood. We can make our own chain and don´t need or want USA chains over here with their hormons and fat! Good riddance I say to Mcdonald. Icelanders are better without this junkfood. We can make our own chain and don´t need or want USA chains over here with their hormons and fat!

]]> By: geo8rge http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10564 geo8rge Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:03:45 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10564 I agree with everything said but, McDonald's could have kept the restaurants open if it wanted to, and in the past it would have come up with an accommodation with local business persons, who would be willing sacrifice on short term returns in exchange for the possibility of long term gains, to keep a presence in Iceland. The economic crisis means that such an accommodation is no longer possible. In the past the US government (and perhaps Germany and even Iceland) would have been in a better position to subsidize McDonald's in the form of export and agricultural subsidies. I agree with everything said but, McDonald’s could have kept the restaurants open if it wanted to, and in the past it would have come up with an accommodation with local business persons, who would be willing sacrifice on short term returns in exchange for the possibility of long term gains, to keep a presence in Iceland. The economic crisis means that such an accommodation is no longer possible.

In the past the US government (and perhaps Germany and even Iceland) would have been in a better position to subsidize McDonald’s in the form of export and agricultural subsidies.

]]> By: jim http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10554 jim Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:39:53 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10554 Should Metro find the brand BigMets, be already taken I offer the following as an alternative. Why not go to the doctor on this one and register the name Debtco both as a company and a trademark. That is if the government hasn't already grabbed it. As we say in the marketing world calling the product BigDEBT has legs going down the track, as it targets the sociographic and psychographic market segment. The BigDEBT would be packaged in used IKR100 notes which will have an enviroment spin off where small boys may collect the discarded wrappers. Benefits are an early education on environmental correctness and a chance the wrapper may be collected to garner value until the time when Iceland is floated on the Shanghai exchange. There may also be a need to encourage some elements in the community to save and plan. Going forward the bottom line at the end of the day is for BigDEBT to sign Mike Moore as the image of corporate failure and a healthy lifestyle. Tag line to be " A BigDEBTOR for a big debtor please". Should Metro find the brand BigMets, be already taken I offer the following as an alternative.
Why not go to the doctor on this one and register the name Debtco both as a company and a trademark. That is if the government hasn’t already grabbed it. As we say in the marketing world calling the product BigDEBT has legs going down the track, as it targets the sociographic and psychographic market segment. The BigDEBT would be packaged in used IKR100 notes which will have an enviroment spin off where small boys may collect the discarded wrappers. Benefits are an early education on environmental correctness and a chance the wrapper may be collected to garner value until the time when Iceland is floated on the Shanghai exchange. There may also be a need to encourage some elements in the community to save and plan. Going forward the bottom line at the end of the day is for BigDEBT to sign Mike Moore as the image of corporate failure and a healthy lifestyle. Tag line to be ” A BigDEBTOR for a big debtor please”.

]]> By: alda http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10552 alda Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:19:59 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10552 <i>There’s nothing stopping Alda, for example, applying for and getting a McDs franchise</i> GAH! Perish the thought!!! There’s nothing stopping Alda, for example, applying for and getting a McDs franchise

GAH! Perish the thought!!!

]]> By: Bromley86 http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10551 Bromley86 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:09:27 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10551 George. 1. McDs is a franchise. 2. The income streams for McD Corp are (AFAIK) franchise fees and supply costs. 3. I've no idea how the franchise fees are structured. However, none of the articles have mentioned them as a problem, so it might be reasonable to assume that they are in ISK, or at least not a problem. 4. Restaurant equipment, as a fixed asset item, isn't really a problem. It's all in place. Servicing a debt incurred to purchase it might be a problem (and having seen the debt position of a number of Icelandic companies, it really might be), but again that's not been mentioned. 5. Whatever the debt situation, the franchise owners think that they can make a go of it changing their name to Metro and selling BigMets (okay, that name is unlikely for copyright reasons, but it would be cool). 6. The problem, per the franchise owners, was that McDs require them to import their beef etc. from the McProduction plant in Germany (as Iceland is too small to set up a McProduction plant in). They require euros. The ISK is worth dick. Therefore, costs have gone through the roof. 6. That wouldn't be an insurmountable problem, but the other fast food places apparently *are* sourcing their meat locally. Therefore, their costs have remained roughly the same, whereas the McDs people were facing a doubling of supply costs. 7. Therefore, the franchise owners have dropped the franchise/branding/signs, retained the restauarants/equipment/staff, and started buying what they can (which is probably everything they need) locally. That's not to say that the burgers will be cheaper than in the US or UK; they won't. But they will be cheaper than imported burgers. So as Alda said, it's not the McD corporation that has quit Iceland. They've put in place a supply system that, with the ISK worth less than half of what it was last year, is unfeasible. There's nothing stopping Alda, for example, applying for and getting a McDs franchise, but because of the exchange rate she'll have to sell those McDs burgers at the highest price in the world. George.

1. McDs is a franchise.

2. The income streams for McD Corp are (AFAIK) franchise fees and supply costs.

3. I’ve no idea how the franchise fees are structured. However, none of the articles have mentioned them as a problem, so it might be reasonable to assume that they are in ISK, or at least not a problem.

4. Restaurant equipment, as a fixed asset item, isn’t really a problem. It’s all in place. Servicing a debt incurred to purchase it might be a problem (and having seen the debt position of a number of Icelandic companies, it really might be), but again that’s not been mentioned.

5. Whatever the debt situation, the franchise owners think that they can make a go of it changing their name to Metro and selling BigMets (okay, that name is unlikely for copyright reasons, but it would be cool).

6. The problem, per the franchise owners, was that McDs require them to import their beef etc. from the McProduction plant in Germany (as Iceland is too small to set up a McProduction plant in). They require euros. The ISK is worth dick. Therefore, costs have gone through the roof.

6. That wouldn’t be an insurmountable problem, but the other fast food places apparently *are* sourcing their meat locally. Therefore, their costs have remained roughly the same, whereas the McDs people were facing a doubling of supply costs.

7. Therefore, the franchise owners have dropped the franchise/branding/signs, retained the restauarants/equipment/staff, and started buying what they can (which is probably everything they need) locally. That’s not to say that the burgers will be cheaper than in the US or UK; they won’t. But they will be cheaper than imported burgers.

So as Alda said, it’s not the McD corporation that has quit Iceland. They’ve put in place a supply system that, with the ISK worth less than half of what it was last year, is unfeasible. There’s nothing stopping Alda, for example, applying for and getting a McDs franchise, but because of the exchange rate she’ll have to sell those McDs burgers at the highest price in the world.

]]> By: alda http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10542 alda Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:46:24 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10542 This is getting tiresome, but I'll say it AGAIN: This has nothing to do with McDonald's keeping restaurants open in Iceland. It's the franchise owners that are dropping the name. This is getting tiresome, but I’ll say it AGAIN:

This has nothing to do with McDonald’s keeping restaurants open in Iceland. It’s the franchise owners that are dropping the name.

]]> By: geo8rge http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10541 geo8rge Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:39:57 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10541 local supplies. - I have not checked but I doubt Iceland produces much in terms of restaurant equipment and food stuffs that go into most western restaurant meals. The restaurants seem to be still open sreving similar food, how? Again the question in my mind is why Mcdonald's could not keep 3 stores open to fly the flag in Iceland. local supplies. – I have not checked but I doubt Iceland produces much in terms of restaurant equipment and food stuffs that go into most western restaurant meals. The restaurants seem to be still open sreving similar food, how?

Again the question in my mind is why Mcdonald’s could not keep 3 stores open to fly the flag in Iceland.

]]> By: Bromley86 http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10508 Bromley86 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:10:51 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10508 >in many ways it is an American one Nope. Its a story of exchange rates and McD corporate doctrine preventing the use of local supplies. Nothing about the end of empire there - the McD empire is doing just fine, I believe. >in many ways it is an American one

Nope. Its a story of exchange rates and McD corporate doctrine preventing the use of local supplies. Nothing about the end of empire there – the McD empire is doing just fine, I believe.

]]> By: geo8rge http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10486 geo8rge Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:43:05 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10486 While I can understand why you view this as an Icelandic story, in many ways it is an American one. Using the old cliche "The sun is setting on the American Empire." While it is probably true that the costs of doing things the McDonalds way, not to mention the franchise payments(not mentioned for some reason), made the restaurants un economic, in the past I can imagine the very profitable McDonald's Corp, and indirectly America, would have subsidized Icelander McDonald's just to keep the flag flying. Like all empires eventually they acquire too many unprofitable outposts for the profitable ones to subsidize, then they need to cut back. To an American the question should not be why Iceland lost its McDonald's, it is why McDonald's could not keep them open? While I can understand why you view this as an Icelandic story, in many ways it is an American one. Using the old cliche “The sun is setting on the American Empire.” While it is probably true that the costs of doing things the McDonalds way, not to mention the franchise payments(not mentioned for some reason), made the restaurants un economic, in the past I can imagine the very profitable McDonald’s Corp, and indirectly America, would have subsidized Icelander McDonald’s just to keep the flag flying. Like all empires eventually they acquire too many unprofitable outposts for the profitable ones to subsidize, then they need to cut back. To an American the question should not be why Iceland lost its McDonald’s, it is why McDonald’s could not keep them open?

]]> By: alda http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/10/a-doddsson-with-cheese-and-a-side-of-fries.html/comment-page-1#comment-10416 alda Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:23:10 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2796#comment-10416 James - hehehe! Jessica - actually burgers are free for anyone named Davíð, Davíðsson and presumably Davíðsdóttir. As long as there is a Davíð in the name. And you have to show ID to claim your burger. :) James – hehehe!

Jessica – actually burgers are free for anyone named Davíð, Davíðsson and presumably Davíðsdóttir. As long as there is a Davíð in the name. And you have to show ID to claim your burger. :)

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