This study shows how McDonald's continually aims to build its brand by listening to its customers. It also identifies the various stages in the marketing process.
Company Profile
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving more than 58 million customers daily. A McDonald's restaurant is operated by either a franchisee, an affiliate, or the corporation itself. The corporation's revenues come from the rent, royalties and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company-operated restaurants. McDonald's revenues grew 27% over the three years ending in 2007 to $22.8 billion, and 9% growth in operating income to $3.9 billion.
McDonald's primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken products, french fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, shakes, and desserts. In response to obesity trends in Western nations and in the face of criticism over the healthiness of its products, the company has modified its menu to include alternatives considered healthier such as salads, wraps and fruit.
Introduction
Branding develops a personality for an organisation, product or service. The brand image represents how consumers view the organisation. Branding only works when an organisation behaves and presents itself in a consistent way. Marketing communication methods, such as advertising and promotion, are used to create the colours, designs and images, which give the brand its recognizable face. At McDonald's this is represented by its familiar logo - the Golden Arches.
Marketing involves identifying customer needs and requirements, and meeting these needs in a better way than competitors. In this way a company creates loyal customers. The starting point is to find out that potential customers are - not everyone will want what McDonald's has to offer. The people McDonald's identifies as likely customers are known as key audiences.
The marketing mix and market research
Having identified its
References: 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Donalds 2. http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com 3. http://www.mcdonalds.com