News

McDonald's sets sights on Chinese mountaintop

March 1, 2013

McDonald's plans to open a restaurant atop China's Tianmen Mountain of Zhangjiajie in the Hunan Province. According to Xinhuanet, the outlet will open before May 1.

The company is investing about $3.2 million in the development on the 1,518-meter-high peak. Zhangjiajie is classified by UNESCO as a World Geopark and also a World Heritage Site. It now includes more than 120 hotels to support the more than 35 million annual visitors.

Off the menu

Additionally, the Chicago Tribune reported that McDonald's will cut the apple walnut salad and Chicken Selects offerings from the U.S. menu in order to make room for new products set to launch later this year.

The chain is also "reviewing options" for its Angus Third Pounder, which launched in 2009.

A franchisee tweeted about the decision, saying these three items "just did not sell well enough nationally."

Read more about franchising and growth or menu trends.