McDonald's new global chief executive, Steve Easterbrook, unveiled a major restructuring plan last month that aims to improve the Golden Arches' poor recent performance.

The company is hoping to save US$300 million a year by 2017 by selling more than 3000 company-owned outlets to franchisees, which would increase the proportion of franchise-run outlets globally to 90 per cent from around 80 per cent currently.

McDonald's New Zealand managing director Patrick Wilson was unavailable for comment today.

Company spokesman Simon Kenny said there had been "no material impact" from the restructuring in this country so far.

"It's been business as usual since the announcement," he said.

Restaurant Brands - whose businesses include Pizza Hut, KFC and Carl's Jr - posted a 9.2 per cent lift in sales, to $359.5 million, for the year to March 2.

Its profit jumped 19.4 per cent to $23.8 million.

Managing director James Tucker said the funds would have let Mad Group open another six to eight Mad Mex stores, to add to the six stores it has already, and achieve "critical mass".

Tucker said he remained "100 per cent confident" Mad Group would raise the funds it needed to grow Mad Mex.

It would now approach the 98 investors who had applied for shares to see if they were still keen to subscribe for them in a private offer, he said.

Discussions were also planned with other potential investors who had come forward as a result of the campaign and who had expressed interest in separately investing sums between $150,000 and $1.5 million, he said.

Mad Group's bank had offered further support to expand the enterprise, which meant it would only need about $500,000 to see through its original expansion plan, he said.

"There are a lot of wheels in motion that couldn't start until the offer closed on Friday, so now this week we are full steam into working through these other options."

Tucker believed New Zealand could support 30 to 50 Mad Mex stores in the "medium term" and said he was not sure why the equity crowdfunding campaign had fallen short.

"The business is focused on achieving revenue growth through boosting current sales, opening new stores and investigating new territories," said chairman Keith Jackson. "Cooks sees significant opportunities to export New Zealand's cafe culture into new markets and existing markets."

In the latest year, revenue doubled to $8.9 million from a restated $4.4 million the year earlier. Three quarters of the revenue came from the Esquires Coffee House unit, with the remainder from the supply division, which includes Scarborough Fair beverage products and Progressive Processors' kiwifruit and asparagus, which supply Esquires stores and other customers.

The Verge website reports:

'There are four different boxes, each of which comes with a separate movie download via a QR code. They're called Slice Night (for horror fans), Anchovy Armageddon (for science-fiction), Hot & Ready (for romance), and Fully Loaded (for an action flick). The box itself is fittingly called the "Blockbuster Box."

Of course, you'll need a very dark room to be able to make out anything from the "projector," and even then, the quality will still be pretty piss-poor. That's not to mention the fact that you'll probably get your phone all greasy by sticking it in that pizza box, and that you'll have to try to make out whatever muffled audio makes it through the walls of the pizza box. We're not letting that stop us from trying it out though — we just need to find a way to get to Hong Kong first.'

'Hong Kong-based Emerald Foods Group (HK) bought 100 percent of the shares in Foreman's Emerald Foods subsidiary on June 3, according to Companies Office filings, completing an acquisition that had been approved by the Overseas Investment Office in April. The acquisition needed OIO approval because Emerald Foods owned sensitive land in East Tamaki, Auckland.

Foreign acquisitions need OIO approval where there is an interest in sensitive land, or the transaction is more than $100 million. The value of the Emerald deal was withheld.

The Hong Kong entity is 80 percent owned by Australian interests, with US investors holding almost 16 percent and other overseas people holding 4.3 percent, according to the OIO summary.

"The applicant intends to develop the business located on the land, with particular regard to exports to China," the OIO summary said. The office granted approval after being satisfied it would increase export receipts and attract additional investment for development. It also met the consequential benefits test, where the OIO believes it will provide additional New Zealand investment, sponsorship or community projects.'

Tens of thousands of Happy Meals were sold across Mexico every day and nearly one billion pieces of Zespri SunGold would be sold around the world this season, she said.

"Mexico is a sophisticated fruit market and consumers have responded really positively to the sweet tropical taste of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit.

"Mexico is a relatively undeveloped market for Zespri - we're forecasting sales volumes of around 750,000 trays in Mexico this season, up 50 per cent from last season.

"This marketing partnership is a great step toward establishing both our brand and gold kiwifruit, which is largely unknown in this region, to families across Mexico.

See video here.

“This is possibly the most ridiculous example of corporate welfare we’ve seen yet. You work hard, you pay your rates and Upper Hutt City spends it on a burger joint,” Taxpayers’ Union executive director Jordan Williams says.

“Sucking money out of a community to spend it on a favoured business isn’t economic development, it’s robbing the poor to pay the rich. Money that would have been spent by citizens has been funnelled into the pockets of BurgerFuel’s investors."

In a press release, the council says the incentive is part of a scheme aimed at encouraging new business into the city.

Businesses that want to set up in the city can apply for a “package,” which can include grant funding, as well as discounts and, in some cases, cost waivers on council services.

Shares in gourmet burger company BurgerFuel jumped more than 21 per cent yesterday after it announced a partnership with California-based franchisor OhCal Foods as part of its plan to break into the US market.

The New Zealand burger chain, which also operates in Australia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, has been eyeing the competitive US market since early last year when it raised $5.9 million from US investor Franchise Brands to help fund its global growth aspirations.

BurgerFuel chief executive Josef Roberts said the latest partnership with OhCal, which services more than 2100 Subway restaurant outlets, was its next strategic move.

Z chief executive Mike Bennetts said Mike Bennetts said Z would operate two brands throughout the combined service station network. Z would continue with its new build programme on prime sites around New Zealand.

"The acquisition is also a great fit with our longer term market growth strategy," said Bennetts.

"Caltex is a successful and highly attractive business in New Zealand and the acquisition means we can use the scale of the combined operation for the expanded supply of biodiesel to a broader market."

He said the Commerce Commission and Overseas Investment Office processes were expected to take some months. "It is very much business as usual for Z, with a continued focus on safety, people and operational excellence."

Who does what?

McDonald's NZ carried out waste audit.

Restaurant Brands wouldn't reveal stance, but operations "tightly controlled".

Farro Fresh donates to Fair Foods.

Muffin Break no policy, up to individual owner.

Brumby's bakeries charities.

Baker's Delight must be given away.

Countdown variety of charity partners.

Foodstuffs charities, including Food Harvest.

Fruit World no policy, stock sold off cheap or given to pig farmers.

Nosh - no comment.

The Mad Butcher business continues to trade to expectations and we envisage results for the franchisor business to be on target. In April 2015, the first Mini Mad Butcher store has been opened in Mosgiel and is proving a successful format. The company will look for open further mini style stores at appropriate locations around the country. There are 4 Mad Butcher stores held for sale, which will be sold as franchisees are identified and approved.

McDonald's Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook, who took the helm on March 1, is fighting on numerous fronts as he works to turn around the company, which saw profit and revenue fall in 2014 after service times slowed and nimbler rivals picked off customers with menus that appeal to growing appetites for fresher, less-processed food.

Despite opposition from McDonald's, 61 percent of voting shareholders said yes to a proposal that would make it easier for long-term investors to list director candidates on company proxy materials.

The UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust brought the proxy access proposal before investors because "McDonald's board needs to be more accountable for these performance lapses," the Trust's Corporate Governance Director Cambria Allen said at the meeting, which was closed to media but accessible via webcast.

Zhang is spearheading the drive to sell Kiwi coffee culture to her home country, just 11 years after arriving in New Zealand as a migrant who found her first job serving in a cafe near Auckland's Britomart transport station. She went on to buy into her first Esquires shop franchise.

She said her dual cultural background had helped her do business. She said: "There is a lot of opportunity for us in China as there is a trend to drink coffee and talk business. At one time coffee would have been reserved for foreigners, and you would have had to go to a hotel to get it.

"Now, if Chinese people don't visit coffee shops they are considered old-fashioned and behind the times!

"McDonald's uses royalty payments from franchisees and foreign subsidiaries in major markets to route profits to tax havens," the report states. "These strategies may have allowed it to avoid up to US$1.8 billion (NZ$2.4m) in tax in those markets in the years between 2009 and 2013, including €1 billion (NZ$1.5b) across Europe and A$497 million (NZ$535m) in Australia."

A spokeswoman for McDonald's said: "We have always been committed to paying our fair share of tax in Australia. In fact, over the past five years, McDonald's Australia has paid in excess of $500 million in tax."

But the report suggests the company's Australian operations show an "unusually high level of inter-company payments over the five years" had gone to the low-tax nation of Singapore.

BurgerFuel Australasia general manager Craig Notman said the city council's approach was as good as it gets.

"This is the first time we've worked with a council that has such a pro-active stimulus package," he said.

"They have a great programme in place to assist the introduction of new businesses to the area and the BurgerFuel family is very happy to be joining the community."

Council economic development manager Phil Gorman said it was exciting to see UHCC's  stimulus package working to such effect for the city.

"To secure a brand as big as BurgerFuel and to have them investing as they have will encourage and help provide confidence to others looking at Upper Hutt as a great place to set up," Gorman said.

If you have TVNZ On Demand, you can watch the programme here.: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/ondemand/fair-go/06-05-2015

Uniacke said the company planned to "look through New Zealand systems" and would then decide on what ideas it could introduce here "that have been hard to run or maintain off a 70 store franchise base".

"We see this as an opportunity to take these stores back, it's possibly a healthy reset," he said. 

"There are some synergies we can probably bring into New Zealand."

Uniacke said DVD kiosks might play a part.

So far, Video Ezy only had 40 of the movie vending machines this side of the Tasman, while it had 1400 in Australia. It was "one of the silver bullets that we have launched," he said. 

The kiosks minimised rent and staffing costs, which meant dvds could be borrowed for half the usual cost, he said. 

They could also be placed in "high foot-traffic" with high rent prices, where a store would be impossible to afford.

Savio Laban, a married hotel worker with two young children, thought Mr Green cleaning would give him a start in business. He borrowed from his social group and paid Dean Smith $15,000 in March for a customer list expected to return $1000 a week. He did not realise Mr Green Property Management Ltd had been struck off the Companies Office register in January.

The pattern was repeated. A customer list failed to materialise and Laban, originally from Mumbai, last month asked for his money back. Emails from Julian Smith to Laban said he was going to put pressure on his brother to repay the money.

"Dean always had some excuse why he couldn't give our money back. We don't know what to do. We made a wrong decision in trusting Mr Green. We came to New Zealand to work hard and make a better future for our two kids and all our hard earned saving is down the drain," Laban said.

The US market, which accounts for more than 40 percent of operating profit, recently stripped away a level of field oversight and will be its own unit.

Another unit will be made up of established international markets such as Australia and the United Kingdom, and another with high-growth markets such as China and Russia. The countries where McDonald's has a smaller presence will be grouped separately.

Previously, the units were segmented by geography rather than market type.

Mr Treen said the agreement hadn't been finalised but the union was convinced "there is good will on both sides" and a spokesman for McDonald's said security of hours would be included in the collective agreement.

"We know that having security of hours is important to our people, which is why on April 13 we announced that a guarantee of hours would be formally written into our employment agreements," the spokesman said.

"Since April 13 we have been working through the technical detail with Unite, along with other elements of the agreement.

The world's biggest hamburger chain said global sales declined 2.3 per cent at established locations during the first three months of the year, with results for April expected to be negative as well. The drop included a 2.6 per cent drop in the U.S., where people are increasingly heading to places that market their food as more wholesome.

Meanwhile, McDonald's is struggling in other regions of the world as well. During the first quarter, the unit encompassing Asia, the Middle East and Africa reported an 8.3 per cent drop in sales at established locations, hurt by a supplier controversy in China last year and ongoing consumer perception issues in Japan.

Sales at established locations dipped 0.6 per cent in Europe because of softness in France and Russia.

There are some challenges when you're part of a franchise group. Sometimes the wheels of change can move slowly. Yes, it's our business, but the decisions that we make can have wider implications, and so there are processes we need to follow when we want to implement any changes.

Sometimes other challenges can be because you're part of a franchised network. If someone visits a Robert Harris cafe in another part of the country and has a bad experience then this could - and through no fault of our own - have a negative impact on your business. You're only as strong as your weakest link.

The requirements included being readable on smaller phone screens, not using software that was not compatible on mobiles and having links spaced out to make searching on mobiles easier for users.

Auckland based marketing consultant Fleur Revell from Impact PR said she had looked over websites of the NZX's top 50 companies earlier this month and found that half failed Google's online mobile readiness tool.

'Dynamic businesses that can adapt rapidly to Google's 500 algorithm changes each year will reap the rewards, while others will be relegated to virtual obscurity as their rankings slip off the coveted first page of Google,' she said.

The NZX-listed company bought the New Zealand rights to American fast-food brand Carl's Jr in 2011, opening its first store the following year.

It has since expanded to 18 stores in the North Island, netting $200,000 in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and a 40 per cent increase in sales to $20.1 million.

Creedy said sales at the burger chain would continue to grow as the company looked to expand the brand to an initial 60 stores in the next five or six years.

'It's [had] very rapid growth,' Creedy said. 'I think the market could easily take 60 stores, that's an initial target for me.'

'If you look at competitors, they have around 80-plus stores - KFC has close to 100 and McDonald's around 160, so 60 is a pretty realistic first target,' he said.

'We decided some time ago to re-evaluate how we present our kids meals, and as part of our ongoing commitment to the Advertising Standards Authority Children's Code for Advertising Food, the decision was made to drop toys altogether.'

The chain will stop selling toys at all 82 of its outlets nationwide.

Hunter said the move was Burger King's second major initiative to help customers make healthier choices. Last year, it became the first major burger chain in New Zealand to display the energy content of menu items on menu boards.

Unite director Mike Treen led his delegates out of a five-hour mediation meeting on Tuesday because he said McDonald's refused to guarantee 80 per cent of actual hours and insisted on guaranteeing 80 per cent of rostered hours only.

"Rosters go up and down. We can't measure a roster," he said. "At the end of it I said, 'Are you moving from scheduled hours to worked hours in your proposal?' And they said no."

However McDonald's human relations manager Christine Hutton emailed Mr Treen at 4.30pm yesterday proposing further mediation dates between April 17 and 29. Spokeswoman Kim Bartlett said the company was willing to talk about scheduled or worked hours.

"Our initial offer was exactly the same as Restaurant Brands but it was scheduled hours, theirs was worked hours," she said. "We are willing to have a discussion with Unite about that, but to do that we have to be in the same room."

Mr Treen said he would accept more mediation if McDonald's assured him that it was willing to make "a meaningful offer".

Controversial zero-hour contracts mean workers had to be available for work but had no guaranteed hours per week. Woodhouse asked officials to review the legislation late last year, amid concerns employment laws were not being used as intended. 

Prime Minister John Key said if zero-hour contracts were being used in a way to discriminate against employees then that had to stop.

'But general flexibility in the labour force is also important, because there are some people who want to have that flexibility.'

Casual contracts were a common practice, which did not require employees to always be available or prevent them from picking up hours elsewhere. 

Woodhouse told One News it was worth banning zero-hour contracts, even if their implementation was relatively low.

'We can expect to get some good advice about that to make some changes in that bill to effectively rule out those kind of punitive provisions. "Even if it is a relatively low incidence in our employment, it's probably worth ruling them out, for the sake of certainty for those vulnerable workers.'

McDonalds NZ announced Monday all employees would receive 80 per cent security of hours up to a 40 hour cap, based on the average of the previous 12 weeks. 

The company had presented its updated position on security of hours at its most recent collective bargaining meeting. 

That had 'previously been common practice' when it came to scheduling in McDonald's restaurants, but would now be formally written into employment agreements, communications manager Kim Bartlett said.

Hoewver, Unite Union has criticised the proposal, calling it 'meaningless' and 'misleading'.

Unite's national director Mike Treen said it was a giant step forward for the industry.

'Restaurant Brands is a public company, and I think that they recognised New Zealand society has moved on; that it's no longer acceptable in 21st century New Zealand for this type of contract to exist, so they're looking for a way to move with the times.'

The Unite Union is now setting its sights on other major fast food chains. It will mount a campaign to try to convince McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's to end zero hour contracts.

'It is time for New Zealanders to tell these profitable multi-national chains that they need to stop taking advantage of their often young and vulnerable workers and put an end to a labour practice that the people of New Zealand have made clear they find unacceptable,' said Mr Treen.