September 24, 2009
McDonald's is rushing to grab market share where Starbucks has hesitated. While Starbucks continues to avoid Italy, for instance, McDonald's opened its first Italian McCafé in Milan in 2005. Today it has 65 of them across the country. And McDonald's is undercutting Starbucks on price. At McCafés in Paris, an espresso costs $2.50, vs. $2.80 at Starbucks.That's not to say you'll find McCafés everywhere. In Britain, where Starbucks has 700-plus stores, McDonald's has no plans for McCafés.