Shares of McDonald’s Corporation climbed more than 3 percent on Tuesday, after its chief financial officer outlined strategies to right slumping sales, from refocusing on basics like service to rolling out new items and promoting its breakfast menu, according to the Chicago Tribune.
McDonald’s is working to stabilize results this year in the United States, Germany, and Japan, which are big markets where its performance has not been as good as expected, CFO Pete Bensen said at a Bank of America Merrill Lynch conference in New York. While the foundation of McDonald’s business is “strong,” the company recognizes that it needs to address its near-term performance,” he said. “The competitive environment has gotten much more aggressive, Bensen said.
McDonald’s new efforts include having consultants work with U.S. restaurants on basics such as staffing and scheduling. The company is also putting an intense focus on service during the first six months of the year in the United States. It is also testing mobile ordering and payment and considering a loyalty program, as well as rolling out new products, Bensen said.