Issue #63 May 2004

“Inside the Golden Arches”

The unexpected passing of McDonald’s CEO and Chairman Jim Cantalupo just as the May 2004 issue, with its cover focus on McDonald’s, was going to press meant last-minute scrambling at the QSR offices. At issue was not how to address Cantalupo’s death and its impact on the brand he’d led, but also how best to pay tribute to a man who by all accounts was a leader in the truest sense of the word. Oh, and we had one day to pull it all together. Updating writer Michael Nuckolls’s feature story was the easy part. Cantalupo was a team builder and insisted his executive team share in the credit for McDonald’s recent good fortunes. This made for an article with many voices. The hard task was crafting a piece that embodied all of who Jim Cantalupo was. The gods were on our side. The updated issue made it to press and was distributed at the 2004 National Restaurant Association Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show. Also in that issue was a profile of then unknown Bill Niman and his network of foodservice meat suppliers. Today the Niman Ranch brand is everywhere—including quick-service.

Issue #100 March 2007

Operating Green

Some industry trends are simply too big for just one story and the recent push for the country—including its favorite fast-food chains— to go green is one of them. That’s why we dedicated the bulk of our March 2007 issue to exploring the topic. Our publisher even sat down with Holland, Inc. CEO Tom Mears to report on how operators can transition their quick-serves to sustainable practices.

Most important, this story made the top-10 list because it’s forward thinking. Yes, “green” is today’s buzz word, but actions like that of a Savannah, Georgia, McDonald’s operator whose entire building is environmentally friendly down to the pavement are ensuring that the goals of today’s trend are met and exceeded in the future.