I’m A Manager At McDonalds... AMA!

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I’m a Manager at McDonalds

I’ve worked for McDonalds for several years in different stores and have received personal awards for my customer service. I never initially wanted to become a manager, however with the support and encouragement of my business manager I went through the crew development programme to become one.

So... AMA?

Sorry to go back to the vegetarian topic but how do you know the demand isn’t there? It’s the fastest growing food industry in the world.
I’d love to see a vegan promotion to gauge its demand. And real effort put into the patty instead of the usual crap vegans are supposed to enjoy!

Sorry to go back to the vegetarian topic but how do you know the demand isn’t there?

LivingInTheSeventies McDonalds is constantly trying to find out what people want from them in various ways, from looking at food for thoughts to running regular surveys.

Whatever is happening outside of McDonalds is irrelevant. The point is that there isn’t enough demand for McDonalds to change or add anything vegetarian.

Why do some branches insist every burger is freshly made when it's clearly to see some have been pre made and sat in the boxes for hours?

Why do some branches insist every burger is freshly made when it's clearly to see some have been pre made and sat in the boxes for hours?

MrsSnootyPants2018 There are two types of McDonalds: grill direct and EOTF. Grill direct has a production bin and does hold food (though definitely nowhere near hours!). EOTF does not have a production bin and so there literally is nowhere for them to be able to hold food.

If your store has a collection point and kiosks, it’s EOTF, and simply cannot hold ready made sandwiches because there isn’t anywhere to do so.

I have read the thread so sorry if I've missed this, but what does EOTF mean?

Bring back the M Burger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I simply do not believe that there isn’t the demand for more veggie and a vegan option given the demand everywhere else. MD does not exist in its own bubble. It would need a well publicised promotion to find out as if they feel there are no options then they’re not even going to engage in the first place.

I simply do not believe that there isn’t the demand for more veggie and a vegan option given the demand everywhere else. MD does not exist in its own bubble
Yes, I think I agree with this. For example, Burger King does a spicy beenburger which is about a million times nicer than McDonalds veggie burger, and looks like they actually care about how it tastes and looks, unlike the McDonald’s one which is a bit rubbish tbh.

My ds has worked his way through college in McDonalds. Finds them great employers. At his first interview for his new career they were very interested in his work there having great respect for his experience. Do you find that the students who work there learn good work practices that stand to them in totally different careers?

If they are sat down inside not causing trouble, we have no problems with teenagers staying even if they only have a drink or two between them as we recognise there are few safe places for them to hang out.
I think this is great of McDonald's. Where I live there are no youth facilities due to gvt cuts. The teens have literally nowhere to go except hanging out in the local park which arguably would lead to more antisocial behaviour.
A few years ago my generally nice polite DS and his generally nice polite mates used to regularly hang out there. So much so that they saw jobs advertised on the wall and are now crew whilst studying at college. Maybe the more 'Scallie minded' youths are safer and less trouble somewhere indoors and kind of supervised.

OP it’s me who asked you to do the thread!! I’ve only just seen it And it’s just as interesting as I knew it would be.

To everyone saying this is a PR stunt - I actually saw OP post that she worked at Mcdonald’s on another thread and said she should do an AMA.

I have read the thread so sorry if I've missed this, but what does EOTF mean?

BessMarvin EoTF is an acronym for Experience of the Future It’s the name we’ve given to the new system. All UK McDonalds are changing to EOTF if they haven’t already (think there’s only around 100 of the old system stores left).

I simply do not believe that there isn’t the demand for more veggie and a vegan option given the demand everywhere else.

PinkAvocado That’s okay; you don’t need to believe it. You haven’t done the research McDonalds has, so of course you won’t have an accurate idea of what customer demands are placed on it and what aren’t.

Vegetarian meals simply aren’t in high enough demand to warrant additions or changes at this time. Things may change in the future, but right now, it isn’t there.

OP that’s FABULOUS

zzzzz Really glad this thread has helped

Yes, I think I agree with this. For example, Burger King does a spicy beenburger which is about a million times nicer than McDonalds veggie burger,

SlowlyShrinking Burger King isn’t anywhere near our main competition, so what they provide isn’t relevant.

My ds has worked his way through college in McDonalds. Finds them great employers. At his first interview for his new career they were very interested in his work there having great respect for his experience. Do you find that the students who work there learn good work practices that stand to them in totally different careers?

Winewinewinewine Absolutely! Other employers hold those with McDonalds experience in high regard, as they know the training is excellent and that standards are exceptionally high.

McDonalds management courses are also pretty much the best in the country. Managerial experience at McDonalds always massively increases your odds of being hired because the course is so good.

I think this is great of McDonald's. Where I live there are no youth facilities due to gvt cuts. The teens have literally nowhere to go except hanging out in the local park which arguably would lead to more antisocial behaviour.

Winewinewinewine Exactly! We shouldn’t assume guilt - just because they’re teenagers it doesn’t mean they’re going to cause trouble. If they do then yes, they can’t stay, but until they do, we are happy to have them.

OP it’s me who asked you to do the thread!! I’ve only just seen it grin And it’s just as interesting as I knew it would be.

nomilknosugarplease Hi! Really happy you’ve found the thread interesting

I find it hard to believe there’s not sufficient demand for gluten free buns in the UK. 1 in 100 people are coeliac before you begin to consider those who don’t eat gluten for a variety of other reasons. You can find gf options across Europe. Subway in N America offer GF which come individually wrapped, giving a decent shelf life.
Think McDs are missing a trick not offering gf buns.

I assume the vegetarian burgers are not popular currently as they are so horrible... no one will willingly go and buy one hence it looks like they don't sell well. McD's did a trial in Finland recently with a proper vegan (fake meat style) burger and I believe it was really popular. No doubt would be here in the UK too...

With the vegetarian/vegan burger debate, McDonalds is going off extensive research and figures, not personal opinion or bias. If it was a simple of “making it better so people would like it” that would be done, but it isn’t.

Great thread op. I know someone who used to be a manager at maccys. She always says it's the best job she ever had.

If you can't wear a wristwatch what about a fob (sorry the idea of not wearing my watch is alien to me and would cause me severe stress)

Also how do we go about getting mayo as a dip? Main head office individual stores?
Couldn't you use one of those ones you use for tomato sauce coz obviously you use mayonnaise in the chicken burgers.

Do you think the toys used to be better in the happy meals years ago? I remember having a big Mac robot toy where as now they just don't seem as good.

I'm also quite surprised you don't do gluten free buns.
I no it's completly different but when I worked in an independent cafe we used to have our gluten free buns in the freezer and just explain to the customer that it means their meal will take slightly longer to prepare. Would that not work there or is it just there is no demand for them?

How do you think Macdonald's could be improved? Do you get frustrated by anything?

Great thread op. I know someone who used to be a manager at maccys. She always says it's the best job she ever had.

Bluelonerose Thanks! That’s lovely to hear

If you can't wear a wristwatch what about a fob (sorry the idea of not wearing my watch is alien to me and would cause me severe stress)

No, for two reasons: again, contamination. That’s the main one as bacteria could land on it or get trapped in the tiny grooves and then fall into the food. Secondary to that, they are not part of our uniform and would not hold up the consistent professional image we want to maintain.

There’s no need for a watch, though; we have screens everywhere and every single one of them has the time on them, as do the tills, coffee machines and the actual clock

Also how do we go about getting mayo as a dip?

It won’t happen. There isn’t a large enough demand for it.

Couldn't you use one of those ones you use for tomato sauce coz obviously you use mayonnaise in the chicken burgers.

It would be a lot of faffing around, and there’s no such thing as a one off, so probably not. We just don’t do mayo I’m afraid!

Do you think the toys used to be better in the happy meals years ago? I remember having a big Mac robot toy where as now they just don't seem as good.

No, I think people are just nostalgic for their youth.

Would that not work there or is it just there is no demand for them?

No demand, so if we did that we would end up with a lot of wastage. We also just don’t have the space.

How do you think Macdonald's could be improved? Do you get frustrated by anything?

fruitpastille We are constantly improving, all the time. Changes are always in motion. Nothing frustrates me; the systems are well tested before they hit our stores so when they get to us they work if they are followed correctly and utilised.

How come Burger King can make and sell a decent veggie burger op? Do you have very different customers from each orher? Hope that doesn’t come across as rude or goady, it really isn’t meant to be

I think you should come and sort out my store OP . Have you ever worked with any really bad managers- bullying, theft or drug taking?

How come Burger King can make and sell a decent veggie burger op? Do you have very different customers from each orher?

SlowlyShrinking Yeah, different customers, different markets, they’re placed in different locations to McDonalds (often train stations and airports, where you get a bigger mix of people and tourists so they do have a market for it).

KFC and Burger King are not our main competitors; they aren’t even close and never really have been.

I think we do two good veggie burgers though. ‘Decent’ is subjective and will mean different things to different people.

Have you ever worked with any really bad managers- bullying, theft or drug taking?

MonsterRehab23 Thankfully no. The worst I’ve really come across is the ones that spend all their time in the office instead of balancing it with time on the shop floor, or those who are more blunt and forward with their attitudes; that technique doesn’t work with the majority of people.