McDonald’s denies push out strategy

Frankfurt: McDonald’s is squeezing out franchise holders in Germany that aren’t willing to expand to meet sales targets, Handelsblatt reported, citing Horst Becker, a Munich-based lawyer who has represented two dozen franchisers.

The fast-food chain wants to lift the average number of outlets per franchise to eight from five by 2015 and has tried to get rid of those that resist the plan, Handelsblatt said, citing Becker.

A McDonald spokesman said the company doesn’t have a strategy to push out franchisers.