The inaugural issue of IAP’s Commentary and Insight, “What Ails McDonald’s?”, collects three columns recently published by Milo Jones, one of our Managing Directors, on the investment website Seeking Alpha. They addressed the strategic problems facing one of the nation’s most respected QSR chains, McDonalds (MCD).

While aimed at MCD investors, these pieces summarize IAP’s views on several of the trends and challenges facing QSR restaurants today:  increasing menu complexity versus clarity of offering; changing perceptions of food integrity; and the delicate balance between franchisees and franchisors.  Naturally, some of the discussion is unique to McDonald’s, but we believe that some of these dilemmas are worth considering by other restaurant firms and restaurant investors.

The issue is available here.