As the iconic '50s-inspired brand, McDonald's continually tries to updates its fast-food restaurants to fit in a post-Starbucks world. Now, the sword of Damocles is swinging over the head of its 48-year-old, red-haired mascot. It begs the question: would you trust a man in a red afro and yellow jump suit for nutritional advice? Morgan Spurlock has not weighed in on the matter, but anti-obesity groups suggest that Ronald McDonald encourages unhealthy eating habits for kids.McDonald’s executives disagree with that thesis. The Wall Street Journal reports that CEO Jim Skinner staunchly defended the clown at the company's annual meeting recently, saying, "Ronald McDonald is going nowhere!" Perhaps… but isn’t that what they said about transfat?
McDonald's has been spending tons of money remodeling restaurants around the globe (but not my neighborhood) with sleek new designs featuring upholstered furniture, flatscreen television and wi-fi, encouraging a Starbucks-esque destination setting, and now with McCafe, frappes and smoothies, the company is moving decidedly with the times.
Children's eating habits aside, the question as to whether Ronald McDonald adequately and accurately represents today's hamburger brand is the real question. The big question is whether the Hamburgler, Grimace and those pesky French Fry Goblins would be caught dead sipping a McCafé Frozen Strawberry Lemonade, side salad with Paul Newman dressing, and tweeting from their iPad?
–Ron Knoth, Guest Blogger