McDonalds I chose McDonald's because it is a brand that is larger than simply a fast-food hamburger chain. McDonald's is the global leader in hamburger fast-food restaurants, serving almost 60 million customers per day. McDonalds' are operated as a franchise, an affiliate, or a corporate store. They have over 32,000 locations worldwide, were founded in 1940, and posted an approximate sales revenue over almost 25 billion in 2010. They are a quintessential American institution, a brand, and a symbol of economic forces that reach into global markets.

If we think about what it takes to serve 60 million customers daily, it is astounding. McDonald's needs beef, and sources it from a number of world-wide providers; fresh produce, condiments, paper products. In addition, from a marketing perspective, the global arches are seen as icons of American life from the 1950s on. One can get a McDonald's meal in almost every country in the world, some with individual flair, but most serving a basic and consistent set of meals. In addition, McDonald's has also become iconic with what is wrong with the fast-food industry. Witness the film, "Supersize me," and others -- pointing to the lack of appropriate...

They produce food from 6am to late night drive-through in almost every country of the world; breakfasts, now espresso; lunch; kid's meals; dinner. They have expanded their menu to include salads, deserts, and typically feature a special of some kind. They continue to expand their product line based on consumer changes and demands. Their model is based on the idea of getting a portion of the consumer's dollar -- so when consumer preferences moved towards espresso drinks as well as coffee (largely due to Starbuck's), McDonald's went the same way. As critics of meat became more vocal, they offer salads, wraps, and lighter…