Ethiopian Review:
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the German division of hamburger giant McDonald’s is being accused by several franchise holders of sharp practices designed to force them out of their contracts.
The report says court records show that in one case McDonald’s hired private detectives to seek evidence of conflicts of interest against one of the franchisees, who operates four restaurants and was accused of putting money into a competing restaurant, against the franchise conditions. The franchisee denies the charge.
In addition five further franchisees accuse McDonald’s of offering positions to employees in exchange for information which could have been used to terminate their contracts.
The people involved claim that these questionable tactics are aimed at reclaiming the outlets.