EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 60, Tuesday, July 12, 2022

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First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“ Change something by even the smallest percentage and your outcomes will be different.”, Elaine Harrison

“Adapting does not mean permanent changes, it just means making small, quick adjustments.” Hany Kubba, The Teaching Blueprint

“Disruption is the new order. The only constant is change.”, Rob Moore

Highlights in issue #60:

• Comparing the Cost of Living Around the World

• “The coronavirus effect on global economic sentiment

• Where Analysts Think China’s Economy Is Going This Year

• How to fight supply chain issues in foodservice

• How inflation is flipping the economic script

• Brand Global News Section: Checkers & Rallys®, Dominos®, Holiday Inns®, KFC®, McDonalds®, PoolWerx®, Restaurant Brands, Starbucks®, YUM Brands,

NOTE: Bolded headlines are live links to published articles where the article is freely available

Interesting Data and Studies

“The coronavirus effect on global economic sentiment – Just one quarter after geopolitical conflicts and instability overtook the COVID-19 pandemic as the leading risk to economic growth, (global executive) survey respondents’ concerns over inflation now exceed their worries about the effects of geopolitical issues on their countries’ economies. In the latest McKinsey Global Survey on economic conditions, respondents most often cite inflation as a risk over the next year.”, McKinsey & Co., June 29, 2022

Global Supply Chain, Energy, Commodities, Inflation & Trade Issues

“Europe is preparing for Russian gas to be cut off this winter – An EU-wide plan is needed to cope. Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled gas goliath, has been squeezing the Europeans for months. s&p Global, a research firm, reckons that in June Russia piped just 4.7bn cubic metres (bcm) to Europe, barely a third of the level in early 2021. Now Russia is squeezing even harder. On June 16th it slashed exports via ns1 to 40% of capacity, citing technical snags. On the morning of July 11th Russia shut down all gas exports via ns1 for about ten days of maintenance.”, The Economist, July 11, 2022

“There’s a massive pile-up of car, furniture exports bound for U.S. and it’s spreading across European ports – Labor slowdowns and strikes at the German and Netherland ports are creating a massive pile-up of export containers bound for the U.S. that will take months to clear out. “U.S. importers need to look four to five weeks in advance to see if there is a vessel available,” said Andreas Braun, Europe, Middle East, and Africa ocean product director of Crane Worldwide Logistics. “This is not normal. Also, if you are lucky to book a slot on a vessel you then have to locate an empty container which can be in the hinterland.”, CNBC, July 1, 2022

“How inflation is flipping the economic script – The liftoff in fertilizer prices, along with other fallout from the war in Ukraine, has pushed prices for basic foods much higher. Since 2021, food prices have risen to their highest level since the United Nations’ Food & Agriculture Office began its index. And the war in Ukraine has lifted food prices to an entirely new level.”, McKinsey & Co., July 6, 2022

“How to fight supply chain issues in food service – When asked what issues plague operators the most, among the answers are supply chain disruptions, which affect suppliers and distributors, too, said Brian Warrener, an associate professor at Johnson and Wales University, at the National Restaurant Association in May. Warrener teaches food & beverage hospitality and management. Warrener said that food costs are up 13%, industry wages are up 11% and industry prices are up 8%. When it comes to food costs, beef is up 23%, eggs 31%, chicken 27% and cooking oil 44%.  He said 96% of operators report delays in the supply chains.”, QSRweb.com, June 29, 2022

Global, Regional & Local Travel Updates

“Three British bosses plot a ‘golden age of air travel’ in the Gulf – The chief executives of Emirates, Etihad and Dubai airport have different plans for luring passengers, going green — and making money. These three British chief executives handle more long-haul international passengers than the bosses of any other airlines or airports. As rival operators, notably British Airways and Heathrow and Manchester airports struggle to cope with rising demand, they want to cash in and “create a new golden age of travel,” as Griffiths puts it.”, The Sunday Times of London, July 10, 2022

“Swiss travel retailer Dufry to acquire Italy’s Autogrill – Duty-free retailer Dufry said on Monday it would acquire Italian airport and motorway caterer Autogrill expanding the Swiss company’s growth opportunities in international markets as travel rebounds. Basel-based Dufry operates around 2,200 shops at airports, cruise liners, seaports and other tourist locations worldwide. Autogrill runs bars, cafes and restaurants at 139 airports internationally, including 80 in North America, as well as on motorways in Europe. Dufry said the combined company will cater to 2.3 billion passengers in more than 75 countries….”, Reuters, July 11, 2022

“A380 Superjumbo Makes Return as Travel Demand Skyrockets – Qantas, who parked all 12 of its A380s in the California desert, said when the pandemic began that it wouldn’t need any of them for at least three years and now, just over two years later, the carrier says it will begin to return to service. British Airways has already begun to fly the A380 again and plans to ramp up service over the coming months. Asiana Airlines announced it would bring back its A380s within a month and Lufthansa announced on Monday that its A380s would make a return to service in 2023.”, AirlineGeeks, June 28, 2022

“Flying will become more expensive for passengers’, warns former British Airways boss – Flying will become more expensive because of soaring oil prices, the former head of British Airways has warned. Willie Walsh, the former chief executive of the airline, also said passengers are set to face problems at UK airports as they try to go away this summer…..The aviation industry is suffering major disruption as a surge in demand for travel coincides with staff shortages across roles such as airline crew, ground handlers, airport security staff and air traffic controllers.”, Yahoo! News, July 11, 2022

Country & Regional Updates

Canada

“Canada’s unemployment rate fell to record low in June, despite losing 43,000 jobs – Financial analysts were expecting a gain of 22,500 positions. The job losses were concentrated among the self-employed and those 55 and older. Hiring conditions remain challenging in Canada, and at last count employers were recruiting for about one million positions – far higher than job-vacancy levels before the pandemic.”, The Globe and Mail, July 8, 2022

China

“Where Analysts Think China’s Economy Is Going This Year – In late May, policymakers rolled out a stimulus package containing 33 measures, including tax and fee cuts, favorable loans for certain sectors and accelerated local government bond issuances for infrastructure investment…..It’s possible that there will be further regional outbreaks and lockdowns due to the harder-to-contain omicron variant, while low confidence is likely to be more persistent, they said.”, Caixing Global, June 24, 2022

“Record 274 Companies Apply for IPOs in Last Week of June – A record number of companies are rushing to submit applications for initial public offerings (IPOs) on China’s A-share market even as a rising number of others are withdrawing flotation plans. In the last week of June, 247 companies submitted IPO applications, the highest weekly number on record. A total of 921 companies are in line to raise money by selling shares on the Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing stock exchanges.”, Caixing Global, July 7, 2022

“Coffee is fragrant again about 800 Starbucks Shanghai stores resume dine in – On June 29, 2022, the first day that Shanghai opened its dine-in restaurants in an orderly manner, the long-awaited coffee shop also opened its doors to welcome guests. On the same day, about 800 Starbucks Shanghai stores took the lead in fully resuming dine-in.”, Yical, June 29, 2022. Compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto

Germany

“The German Trade Deficit Is No Cause for Alarm – Germans have long placed too much emphasis on the importance of a surplus to their country’s prosperity. In May, for the first time in more than three decades, Germany’s storied trade surplus disappeared. Not only is imported natural gas more expensive, but demand in China is falling — neither of which is good news for Germany. Nevertheless, the fallout will be more manageable than many people expect, the Germans included.”, Bloomberg, July 7, 2022

Greece

“Greek Tourism Boom Means Growth May Top 3.2%, Stournaras Says – The Greek economy may grow more than expected as tourists return to the country in greater numbers, according to the central bank chief. The country also is in a better situation than some of its euro-area peers in regard to the threat of Russia cutting off energy deliveries. Greece will likely avoid a recession should shipments halt completely, Stournaras said.”, Bloomberg, July 10, 2022

India

“India to Surpass China as Most-Populous Nation in 2023 – UN had previously estimated India to cross milestone by 2027 Report pegs global population growth at 8.5 billion by 2030. The UN expects global population to hit 8 billion on Nov. 15 and grow to 8.5 billion by 2030. More than half the projected rise between now and 2050 is expected to be in just eight countries: Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania….”, Bloomberg, July 12, 2022

Japan

“Why most overseas visitors to Japan are on business trips, with the country opening up cautiously. Japan is allowing in overseas visitors on official tour groups, but most arrivals are there on business trips and fitting in some sightseeing. Some of these ‘bleisure’ travellers said they had no problem getting into Japan, while others complained of having to jump through too many hoops.”, South China Morning Post, July 11, 2022

Russia

“Russians served mouldy burgers in McDonald’s replacement restaurants – Now diners at the new Vkusno & Tochka outlets (translated from Russian as “tasty and that’s it”) posted photos of their food on social media, New York Post reports. The disturbing images show mould on the hamburger buns. Other customers have reported finding insect legs in the meat patties, according to the Daily Mail.”, News.com.au, July 6, 2022. Compliments of Jason Gehrke, Publisher & Editor, Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane

“McDonald’s simplifies franchising policies to attract more diverse candidates – Starting in 2023, the fast-food giant will evaluate every potential new operator equally. In the past, the spouses and children of current franchisees have been given preferential treatment. The company recently came under pressure for a plan to roll out a new grading system early next year that rankled some franchisees, who have concerns about potentially alienating workers.”, CNBC, June 23, 2022

“Starbucks found a buyer for the Russian business – Restaurateur Anton Pinsky will most likely become the new owner of the chain. The deal can be closed as early as the 20th of July, it will include lease rights to all areas of Starbucks coffee shops with renovation (but without the possibility of using Starbucks products and technologies), as well as premises in the Pushkino Park shopping center, which is located at the company owned, say the interlocutors of Vedomosti. The new owner of the network will also have to rebrand it, as happened with McDonald’s earlier (renamed to “Tasty – and that’s it!”)…”, Vedomosti, July 7, 2022. Compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto

“Fast Food Giant Yum Brands Announces Plans to Leave Russia With KFC Sale – One of the world’s largest restaurant companies, Yum Brands Inc, announced Tuesday it is “in advanced talks” to sell its KFC restaurants and franchise in Russia. The American company plans to fully exit the Russian market after selling the brand to a local buyer, state-run news agency Interfax reported.  The company has already sold its Pizza Hut business to a Russian company Noi-M.”, The Moscow Times, July 5, 2022. Compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto

“IHG Hotels and Resorts To Cease All Operations in Russia – On April 8, the company shared it was in discussions with the owners of its 28 IHG-branded hotels in Russia “regarding the complex, long-term management and franchise contracts under which these hotels operate,” according to the statement. The InterContinental Moscow – Tverskaya opened in 2011 and is the company’s highest-profile branded hotel in the country. Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels are prevalent across the country, and a Staybridge Suites and a Hotel Indigo round out the company’s portfolio there.”, Hotel News Now / Costar, June 27, 2022. Compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto

Singapore

“Singapore’s Sky-High Car Prices Are Warning for Global Cities – City-state’s taxes have pushed car prices to as much as a flat Government restricts sales to prevent congestion, pollution. Singapore media professional Ellie Lim gave up her plan to buy a new Volvo SUV to ferry her newborn baby when she realized it was going to cost her more than S$200,000 ($142,000). ‘I was quite shocked,’ said Lim, 34. Coupled with high interest rates on car loans, fuel prices and maintenance fees, buying a new car is ‘a financially unsound decision,’ she said.”, Bloomberg, July 6, 2022

Turkey

“Turkey hit with soaring prices as inflation nears 80% – Growth in annual prices rose from 73.5% in May to 78.6% in June, but real rate could be double official figure. The growth in annual prices rose from 73.5% in May to 78.6% in June, according to the Turkish statistics agency. However, opposition parties and economists said recent hikes in oil and gas prices meant the real rate of inflation was almost double the official figure.”, The Guardian, July 4, 2022

United Kingdom

“UK Tax Cuts Feature at Heart of Race to Replace Johnson – The contest to succeed Boris Johnson as UK prime minister is likely to become a battle over hand-outs for households, with limited interest in fiscal restraint. Tax cuts and aid for families struggling with a surge in the cost of living are already at the heart of the political debate, and pressures for largess from the Treasury will only increase during the next few weeks. By September, when the ruling Conservative Party aims to install a new leader, the government is likely to face strike threats from public sector workers demanding higher pay.”, Bloomberg, July 10, 2022

United States

“Supply Chain Taking Toll on US Business – More than a third of US retailers are just two months away from running out of cash, according to a new survey from Brightpearl. There’s more. The study of 500 retailers also found 80 percent have been hit with supply problems in the last year; 52 percent have experienced stockouts, resulting in a loss of sales; and the supply crisis has added 23 percent to retailers’ costs over the last year, with 51% saying they have increased prices as a result.”, Franchising.com, July 2022

“Workers in America’s biggest cities are defying their bosses and avoiding the office – In-office visits in San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago still aren’t as frequent as they were before the pandemic, according to new research from locational analysis software Placer.ai that analyzed foot traffic data in nearly 200 office buildings in all three cities. If any trend has emerged from the Great Resignation and the past two years of remote work, it’s that white-collar employees generally like workplace flexibility. What they don’t like as much—the office. Research from McKinsey & Co. found that 58% of Americans have the option to work remotely at least one day a week.”, Fortune, July 2, 2022

“A Small Business Hiring Surge – Owners fear recession but are still adding workers. The owners of small U.S. firms went on a hiring binge last month and continue to raise compensation to attract and retain scarce workers. That’s according to the latest monthly employment survey from the National Federation of Independent Business, due out later today. What makes this strong desire to hire especially odd is that it is occurring  even as the owners of small firms are more pessimistic about future business conditions than they’ve been in at least 48 years, according to NFIB.”, The Wall Street Journal, July 7, 2022

Brand News

“Checkers & Rally’s Taking a Big Bite Out of Franchise Fees and Royalties – In 2022, the brand is offering incentives of as little as 2% royalties for the first year for franchisees opening one or two restaurants on schedule, to 0 percent royalties for franchisees who open three restaurants on schedule and within a set time period. Beyond those enticing incentives, there is also a reduction in franchise fees for veterans and women entrepreneurs interested in franchising with the Tampa, Florida-based brand.”,  Franchising.com, July 2022

“Domino’s (Australia) adds pizza delivery charges as costs bite fast food sector – Pizza chain Domino’s has introduced a 6 percent delivery fee for online orders as rising food and fuel costs begin to bite across Australia’s fast food industry. The ASX-listed pizza maker told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age it had introduced the fee to cover the increasing costs of doing business.”, Brisbane Times, July 5, 2022

Global investment firm Norwest invests in Poolwerx pool and spa franchise network – US-based global venture and growth equity investment firm Norwest has invested a substantial amount in Poolwerx to support the franchisor’s plans for ambitious growth. Poolwerx founder and CEO John O’Brien says the investment will bring additional expertise and opportunities to enable Poolwerx to grow bigger and faster in Australia, New Zealand and the US.”, Splash Magazine (Australia), July 7, 2022

“Restaurant Brands International – Second Quarter Results Likely To Beat Expectations On Strong Business Momentum. The opening up of Canada and the firm’s international markets was possibly a continued predominant tailwind for sales. Digital, delivery, and increased dine-in sales which drove upside over the first quarter, probably delivered during the second quarter as well. Burger King U.S. likely continued to recapture market share due to turnaround efforts.”, Seeking Alpha, June 30, 2022

“Yum Brands is completely exiting Russia – After Yum completes the transfer of ownership of all KFC restaurants in Russia to a local operator, the process of exiting the contentious country will be complete.”, Nation’s Restaurant News, July 5, 2022

Articles & Studies For Today And Tomorrow

“Comparing the Cost of Living Around the World – The amount of money that’s needed to pay for day-to-day expenses like housing and food varies greatly from city to city. And some cities, like New York City, are known as especially expensive places to live. This graphic by Victor Dépré (hypntic.data) uses 2022 data from Numbeo to compare the cost of living and purchasing power in 578 different cities around the world, using New York City as a benchmark for comparison.”, Visual Capitalist / Numbeo, July 8, 2022 NOTE: The graphic at the link is interactive for the 578 cities.

To receive this biweekly newsletter, click here : https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

Our Mission, Information Sources & Who We Are

Our biweekly global business update newsletter focuses on what is happening around the world that impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment, economic development and travel. We daily monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our GlobalTeam™ covering 43 countries provides us with updates about what is happening in their specific countries. 

To sign up for our biweekly newsletter click here: https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

William (Bill) Edwards has a four-decade career successfully accelerating the international growth of more than 40 brands. He has directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Middle and Near East and has lived in China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey. Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for companies Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets, providing in-country operations support and problem solving around the world. EGS has twice received the U.S. President’s Award for Export Excellence. For advice on doing business successfully across 40+ countries, contact Bill Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896. 

www.edwardsglobal.com

Download our latest chart ranking 40+ countries as places to do business at this link:

Our latest GlobalVue™ 40 country ranking

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 59, Tuesday, June 28, 2022

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First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.”, Rita Mae Brown

“Experience is the teacher of all things.”, Julius Caesar

“The only source of knowledge is experience.”, Albert Einstein

Highlights in issue #59:

• Interest Rate Hikes vs. Inflation Rate, by Country

• Visualizing the World’s Population by Age Group

• China’s Stock Rally Is Becoming a Lifeline for Asian Portfolios

• Singapore’s air travel is rebounding despite China’s border restrictions

• Brand Global News Section: Lego’s®, Little Caesar’s®, McDonald’s®, Pizza Hut®, Popeyes®, Wendy’s® and Wingstop®

Interesting Data and Studies

“The pandemic has accelerated a global decline in the rule of law – But it has also brought some needed change to the way justice is administered. Compiled by the World Justice Project (wjp), a Washington-based charity, the Rule of Law index, published annually since 2009 and now covering 140 countries, draws on tens of thousands of responses from households, legal practitioners and experts. It asks about people’s experience of the justice systems in their countries, and produces scores based on factors such as the constraints on government power, corruption, regulatory implementation, order and security, and the enforcement of civil and criminal law.”, The Economist, June 7, 2022

Global Energy & Commodities

“The Global Economy: Commodities Crisis – The war in Ukraine is exacerbating pre- existing problems with global grain supplies and prices. Although higher prices will be felt by all, North African and Middle Eastern countries along the Mediterranean will be more directly and severely affected. Sudden spikes in food prices are directly linked to increased social unrest and conflict. Further, instability in this region could put fertilizer supplies at risk, which would put only more upward pressure on food prices.”, Geopolitical Futures, June 2022

Global Supply Chain, Commodities, Inflation & Trade Update

“2022 Third-Quarter Forecast – During the third quarter of 2022, the combination of high energy and food prices, supply chain bottlenecks, geopolitical uncertainty and the tightening of monetary policy by central banks will slow economic activity in most parts of the world. While the drivers of slowing growth will be similar, the consequences will change from region to region.” Stratfor Worldview, June 27, 2022

“U.S. Port Backups Are Extending Into Freight Rail Supply Chains – The congestion is raising costs and adding complications for importers managing the flow of goods in a fragile U.S. economy.

Some retailers are waiting weeks to move cargo by train out of Southern California’s ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, while others are giving up on the railroads and shifting shipments of furniture, apparel and other consumer goods to trucks for long inland journeys on highways.” Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2022

Global, Regional & Local Travel Updates

“Pent-up demand for travel is becoming un-pent,’ says Andrew Charlton of Aviation Advocacy, a consultancy.

The number of seats available on European airlines in the week commencing June 6th was only 9% below the same week in 2019. In North America it was just 5.6% down, according to oag, another consultancy…..up to September sales for international routes are at 72% of their level in 2019 and those on domestic ones are at 66%, according to iata, an industry body.”, The London Economist, June 9, 2022

“Air New Zealand Relaunches International Routes to Meet Travel Demand – Air New Zealand has announced the recommencement of 14 international routes over a 16-day period in July. According to the New Zealand Herald, the airline will relaunch services from Auckland to destinations such as Tahiti, Honolulu and Houston that have not seen service for just over 800 days.” , Air Geeks, June 24, 2022

Country & Regional Updates

Australia

“Minimum wage increase: Bosses slam Fair Work Commission’s pay boost – On Wednesday morning, the Fair Work Commission announced the national minimum wage would rise by 5.2 per cent to $21.38 per hour or $812.60 per week, representing an increase of $40 per week. Modern award minimum rates will also go up 4.6 per cent “subject to a minimum increase of $40 per week”, and both increases will come into effect from July 1 for most workers.”, News.com.au, June 16, 2022. Compliments of Jason Gehrke, Managing Director, The Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane

China

“China’s Record High Youth Unemployment Rate – China’s youth unemployment rate in urban areas in May was the highest since records began in 2018 as Covid-19 lockdowns restricted mobility and weighed on the labor market, with the government warning the situation could get worse as millions of fresh graduates start looking for work. The surveyed urban unemployment rate among workers aged 16 to 24 — which captures graduates from high school and college — climbed to 18.4% in May from 18.2% in April….”, Caixing Global, June 15, 2022

Germany

“Another strike at major German ports as pay negotiations break down again – As the RMT union leads UK rail workers in their second day of walkouts, new industrial action is also under way at German ports. Negotiations in Bremen between German trade union ver.di and the Central Association of German Seaport Companies (ZDS) broke down yesterday. Beginning at 6am, the strikes are affecting the ports of Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven – road, rail and sea cargo, Maersk said – and run until 6am tomorrow.”, The Loadstar, June 23, 2022. Compliments of Vince Iacopella, EVP Growth and Strategy, Alba Wheels Up International Inc.

Spain

“Amazon to add 2,000 jobs to its Spanish payroll in 2022 – U.S. online retailer plans to add 2,000 new jobs to its Spanish payroll in 2022, the company’s local unit said on Thursday, a move that will take the total number of employees in Spain to 20,000 by the end of the year. The new hirings include more than 500 jobs within high-demand sectors such as engineering, software development, data science and machine learning….”, Reuters, June 23, 2022

United Kingdom

“Interest rates set to rise to 1.25% as Bank tries to curb inflation – Interest rates will rise today for the fifth time in a row to 1.25 per cent amid calls for Boris Johnson to level with the public about the cost of living crisis. The Bank of England is expected to increase rates by 0.25 percentage points from what was already a 13-year high as it seeks to rein in inflation. The Federal Reserve, America’s central bank, went further yesterday, increasing interest rates by 0.75 percentage points, the sharpest rise since 1994.”, The Times of London, June 15, 2022

United States

“Lego Brings Manufacturing Back To The U.S., 15 Years After Pulling Plug – The Denmark-based toy company, which makes the colorful plastic building blocks that kids have played with for nine decades, said on Wednesday that it plans to invest more than $1 billion in a new manufacturing plant in Virginia. The move will allow it to shorten the distance that its products have to travel to reach the U.S., one of its biggest markets, it said, and thereby avoid the global supply chain chaos that has resulted in major delays and increased costs during the pandemic.”, Forbes, June 15, 2022

Brand News

“This National Pizza Chain Just Announced Plans to Open 1,000 New Locations – In the mood for some pizza? Little Caesars is counting on it and making moves that will ensure every corner of the country has access to their hot-n-ready pies. The majority of Little Caesars franchises currently dominate the New York, New England, and Hawaii markets—but the brand recently expanded internationally in Russia, Spain, Columbia, and Barbados. It’s looking to also open more in Brazil, France, the Philippines, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.”, Eat This, Not That, June 23, 2022

“The former McDonald s opened under the new brand Vkusno  and that’s it – Big Mac and McFlurry will disappear from the menu, and prices will be higher. The first 15 restaurants of the former fast food chain McDonald’s opened last weekend under the new brand “Tasty – and that’s it.” By the end of the month, the number of open restaurants will increase to 200. The American corporation, which managed 718 restaurants in 45 regions, sold the Russian business at a significant discount, reserving the opportunity to buy it back within 15 years, the new owner of the chain, Alexander Govor, told Vedomosti in an interview.”, Vemdoosti.ru, June 13, 2022. Compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto. (English translation available on Google)

“Allegro taps bankers to deliver Pizza Hut exit – Allegro Funds’ turnaround at Pizza Hut Australia looks just about complete, with the private equity firm preparing to hang up the for-sale sign and seek a growth-minded buyer. Six years after taking the reins, and after a lengthy restructure, it is understood Allegro Funds has hired Miles Advisory and had the firm’s dealmakers preparing potential buyers for a confidential auction.”, Australia Financial Review, June 13, 2022. Compliments of Jason Gehrke, Managing Director, The Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane

“US Fried-Chicken Chain Popeyes Expands in UK With Six New Sites….where its first location has become the brand’s best-performing restaurant globally since it launched last year. Popeyes, owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc., will roll out sites in Nottingham, Gateshead, Oxford, Reading, Brighton and Ealing. It currently runs delivery kitchens around London and a take-away restaurant in east London’s Stratford, now the best-performing of Popeyes’ 3,600 worldwide. The company also opened a sit-in restaurant in Chelmsford over the weekend.”, BBN Bloomberg, June 13, 2022

“Wendy’s New Zealand up for sale – The New Zealand arm of the well-known Wendy’s hamburger chain is on the market, including all 22 company-owned stores. Wendy’s NZ, the current master franchisee, owner and operator of all Wendy’s hamburger restaurants throughout New Zealand, is on the market for the first time in 34 years.:”, Franchise New Zealand magazine, June 23, 2022

“Wingstop opens its first restaurant in Canada – the company is opening a location this month in Toronto, one of 100 planned for the country as the chicken wing chain pushes international growth more aggressively…..The vast majority of the brand’s 1,800 locations are in the U.S., but a growing number of them are outside the country. Wingstop finished 2021 with just under 200 locations, up by 160% over the past five years, according to Technomic. The brand has found success in Mexico, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.”, Restaurant Business, June 20, 2022

Articles & Studies For Today And Tomorrow

“Interest Rate Hikes vs. Inflation Rate, by Country – Imagine today’s high inflation like a car speeding down a hill. In order to slow it down, you need to hit the brakes. In this case, the “brakes” are interest rate hikes intended to slow spending. However, some central banks are hitting the brakes faster than others. This graphic uses data from central banks and government websites to show how policy interest rates and inflation rates have changed since the start of the year. It was inspired by a chart created by Macrobond.”, Visual Capitalist, June 24, 2022

“Visualizing the World’s Population by Age Group – An aging population can have far-reaching consequences on a country’s economy. With this in mind, today’s graphic looks at the age composition of the global population in 2020, based on the latest figures from the United Nations. Our global population is getting older, largely because of increasing life expectancies and declining birth rates. In 2020, more than 147 million people around the world were between the ages of 80-99, accounting for 1.9% of the global population.”, United Nations, Pew Research Center, June 16, 2022

To receive this biweekly newsletter, click here : https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

Our Mission, Information Sources & Who We Are

Our biweekly global business update newsletter focuses on what is happening around the world that impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment, economic development and travel. We daily monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our GlobalTeam™ covering 43 countries provides us with updates about what is happening in their specific countries. 

To sign up for our biweekly newsletter click here: https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

William (Bill) Edwards has a four-decade career successfully accelerating the international growth of more than 40 brands. He has directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Middle and Near East and has lived in China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey. Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for companies Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets, providing in-country operations support and problem solving around the world. EGS has twice received the U.S. President’s Award for Export Excellence. For advice on doing business successfully across 40+ countries, contact Bill Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896. 

www.edwardsglobal.com

Download our latest chart ranking 40+ countries as places to do business at this link:

Our latest GlobalVue™ 40 country ranking

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 58, Tuesday, June 14, 2022

To receive this biweekly newsletter, click here : https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“Life is like a camera. Focus on what is important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives. And if things do not work out, take another shot!!”, Anonymous

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.”, Babatunde Olatunji

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”, The Dalai Lama

Highlights in issue #58:

• Russian-owned successor of McDonald’s opens in Moscow

• DHL Warns Supply Chain Won’t Recover to Pre-Covid Days in 2023

• The Global Decline of Fertility Rates

• China’s struggling private firms tasked with lifting nation out of economic doldrums

• How The Denny’s Grand Slam Got Its Name

• Brand Global News Section: Denny’s®, KFC®, McDonald’s®, Panera Bread®, Subway®, Taco Bell®

Interesting Data and Studies

The EGS GlobalVue™ June 2022 Country Ranking Chart

In the June 2022, the EGS GlobalVue™ country ranking, Canada, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand and the Philippines have moved up since the March report and is primarily due to continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Russia moved down due to the Ukraine war cutting off its trade with other countries.

The EGS GlobalVue™ country ranking of places to do business was established in 2001 and is released 4x annually. The report contents are based on the latest economic and political trends in 40+ countries across the globe; feedback from EGS GlobalTeam™ members covering 43 countries; and our daily review of over 30 international vetted information sources.

Global Energy & Commodities

“China’s Never-Ending Coal Price Woes – Since the week of March 10, the price for a ton of the benchmark 5,500 kilocalorie per kilogram (kcal/kg) thermal coal has mostly been over 1,155 yuan ($173). Even after that figure was set as the cap for coal prices by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on May 7, prices remained well above that level. As of the week of May 26, the latest weekly report available, the price had reached 1,255 yuan, figures from the China Electricity Council (CEC) showed.”, Caixing Global, June 9, 2022

“UK ramps up gas and oil exports to EU amid Russia’s war in Ukraine – Britain’s goods exports to EU a record £16.4bn in April despite impact of Brexit. Reflecting the impact of the war in Ukraine as EU nations seek to diversify energy supplies away from Russia, the data suggests the UK is acting as a hub for liquified natural gas (LNG) imports from the rest of the world before pumping it through pipelines to the continent. UK fuel exports rose by £500m on the month, driven by gas and crude oil to the Netherlands and Ireland, in a sign of heightened demand on the continent to refill gas storage sites in the run-up to winter.”, The London Guardian, June 13, 2022

Global Supply Chain, Commodities, Inflation & Trade Update

“The War in Ukraine and the Rush to Feed the World – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a major humanitarian crisis, not just in Ukraine but also around the world. Given the region’s importance as a breadbasket to the world, the impact on key food commodities such as wheat and sunflower oil has been immediate, resulting in massive shortages and price shocks. What’s worse, Russia is a key producer of fertilizers and of the energy needed to distribute available food and to grow more. According to the World Bank, global food prices are on track to rise 23% this year, after having risen 31% in 2021, and the cost of the inputs and fuel required to produce and move the food that the world will need tomorrow is also rising.”, Boston Consulting Group, May 17, 2022

“Financial Times Data explorer: consumer price inflation – Annual % change in consumer price index. The latest figures for most of the world’s largest economies make for worrying reading, with price pressures surging to the highest level in many decades.”, Financial Times, June 13, 2022

Global, Regional & Local Travel Updates

“Airline travel to take off after COVID testing drops for international trips – The Biden administration will stop requiring air travelers to take Covid-19 tests in order to fly to the U.S. starting on Sunday, said federal officials, ending one of the last vestiges of travel restrictions employed during the pandemic to try to stem the spread of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has determined that people flying to the U.S. from abroad no longer need to test negative a day before their departures, based on available science and data, ending a requirement that has been in place since last year. The testing requirement is set to end on June 12 at 12:01 a.m. (Eastern time).”, The Wall Street Journal, June 10, 2022

“Singapore Changi Airport to Reopen Terminals to Meet Demand – Terminal 4 and rest of Terminal 2 to reopen in coming months Transport minister expects the growth trajectory to continue. Terminal 4 will reopen in September and departure operations in the southern wing of Terminal 2 will restart from October, Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte said in a statement Friday. The added capacity will allow the airport to better cope with an influx of passengers in the northern hemisphere winter.”, Bloomberg, June 10, 2022

“Thailand Ready to Scrap Last of Pandemic-Era Curbs on Tourists – Tourism ministry to propose ending pre-travel registrations Visa-on-arrival expansion planned to attract foreign visitors. Thailand plans to end mandatory pre-travel registration for foreigners, rolling back the last of the pandemic-era curbs, as the tourism-reliant nation bets on global visitors to power its economic recovery.  The move would go into effect next month and has the backing of the Health Ministry, he said.”, Bloomberg, June 9, 2022

Country & Regional Updates

Australia

“Endota buys in NZ to try to replicate Aussie success – Australian spas and wellness products company Endota has acquired New Zealand’s largest day spa group Forme Spa to try to put a rocket under its international expansion plans. Endota operates 120 spas and distributes products to 11 countries including Canada, Thailand, Malaysia, and China with a group turnover of approximately $170 million. The Forme acquisition adds nine locations around New Zealand to Endota’s studio chain.”, Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane, June 10, 2022

Canada

“Nutrien plans major potash production hike as war in Ukraine exerts relentless pressure on global supplies. Nutrien Ltd. is planning a major ramp up in potash production, as the war in Ukraine exerts relentless pressure on global supplies of the key fertilizer. The world’s biggest fertilizer producer, based in Saskatoon, said on Thursday that it intends to boost its annual potash production to 18 million tonnes by 2025 – about 21.5 per cent higher than current levels. This year, Nutrien expects to produce about 14.8 million tonnes, a figure that had already been revised upward.”, The Globe & Mail, June 9, 2022

China

“China’s struggling private firms tasked with lifting nation out of economic doldrums – Call to action comes at annual gathering of China’s business leaders that serves as an influential idea-exchange forum. China’s private firms have taken an especially hard economic hit over the past year, whereas state-owned enterprises have remained mostly intact or even thrived. With China’s economic headwinds intensifying amid rising internal and external uncertainties, the country’s private sector has been tasked with rebooting the economy, despite having borne most of the pain of the current economic downturn.”, South China Morning Post, June 13, 2022

“Uncertainty Weighs on British Businesses in China Amid Lockdowns, Chamber Says – A majority of British companies in China have forecast falling revenues for 2022 as they expect the country’s current wave of Covid-19 outbreaks and the resulting government response to take a serious toll on business this year. That’s according to an annual business sentiment survey conducted by the British Chamber of Commerce in China, which says “increasing uncertainty” threatens to undermine what many foreign companies see as a major strength of doing business in the country.”, Caixing Global, May 31, 2022

India

“India’s Factory Output Expands to Eight-Month High in April – Index of industrial production rises 7.1%, versus 5% estimate Increasing commodity prices could hurt nascent recovery. Domestic demand is powering the Indian economy from the pandemic-induced slump but geopolitical tensions threaten to thwart the nation’s nascent recovery. Rising commodity prices and supply chain disruptions have further fueled inflationary concerns forcing the country’s central bank to cumulatively raise rates by 90 basis points this year to tame prices.”, Bloomberg, June 10, 2022

Indonesia

“Optimism in Indonesia as youth prospects improve amid economic recovery –  Experts say nation ‘on track to recovery’ post Covid and doing better than other countries, with controlled inflation and subsidies to poorest citizens. Adhi Saputro, a senior economist at Prospera Indonesia, a partnership between Australia and Indonesia to support the latter’s economy, said Indonesia was “on track to recovery” and faring “better relative to other countries” particularly with inflation under control and windfall profits from commodity price surges.”, South China Morning Post, June 13, 2022

Russia

“Russian-owned successor of McDonald’s opens in Moscow – Fifteen of the former McDonald’s were set to reopen in Moscow on Sunday. It wasn’t until a couple of hours before the Pushkin Square restaurant opened that the Russian chain’s new name was announced: Vkusno-i Tochka (Tasty-period). The logo is different, but still evokes the golden arches: a circle and two yellow oblongs — representing a beef patty and french fries — configured into a stylized M.”, NBC News, June 12, 2022

United States

“(U.S.) Inflationary Pressure Shows Signs of Easing in 2023 – What should we expect next year? As I see it, there are two forces at work, one global and one domestic, that provide solid clues. Holding aside the international actions taken purely for political reasons (Russia in particular), most of the global supply input flows were a consequence of Covid, and we are starting to see economic forces bringing stability back to those flows.”, Darrell Johnson, FRANdata, franchising.com, June 9, 2022

“Gas Prices Soar to Records, but Exclusive Data Show Gas Stations Aren’t the Problem – Profits earned by gas stations are small compared to the recent rise in retail prices. The average service station reaped a $28,676 profit from gasoline in April. When gas prices spiked in May, they saw their profit fall to an average of $16,424. Once they paid their rent and made payroll, most gas stations were hardly rolling in profits.”, Barron’s, June 12, 2022

Brand News

“How The Denny’s Grand Slam Got Its Name – Denny’s has long been a staple of the American breakfast scene, offering an oasis of pancakes and hearty plates of eggs no matter how late or early it may be. The breakfast-oriented diner has been around since 1953 when it first opened as a donut shop in California, growing into what it calls “America’s diner” with over 1,400 locations across the United States. One of the chain’s most famous entrees is the Grand Slam — a veritable breakfast buffet of two buttermilk pancakes, two eggs, bacon, and sausage.”, Mashed, June 7, 2022

“(Washington) DC will get one of first digital-only Panera Bread stores – Panera Bread is going where the customers are, and D.C. will be among first markets to get a digital-only Panera store. Panera just opened its first take-out and delivery-only store in Chicago, with plans to open two more this year in California and the District. Panera said as of the end of 2021, 81% of its sales were via off-premise channels, including delivery, pickup, drive-thru and catering.”, WTOP News, June 10, 2022

“At least two fast food chains (in Australia) are using cabbage instead of lettuce due to supply chain disruptions caused by heavy flooding on the east coast of Australia earlier in the year, according to a media report.

Both KFC and Subway will use cabbage or a cabbage/lettuce blend in their burgers and sandwiches in lieu of lettuce which is selling for up to $12 a head in independent stores. Growers have reportedly been receiving between $80 and $100 per box of lettuce, compared with the usual $14 to $16 per box, after extreme rainfall events in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley wiped out crops.”, Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane, June 10, 2022

“Taco Bell Opens New Futuristic Drive-Thru, Guarantees You’ll Feel Fast-Food Regret Even Faster – The new venue referred to as “Taco Bell Defy” opened this week in a Minneapolis suburb. It doesn’t even have a dining room and the kitchen is elevated above the drive-thru. Also, instead of one or two, it has four drive-thru lanes. The lanes each have a different designation. One is for delivery drivers, one is for Taco Bell app users, and the others are for traditional orders.”, Mandatory, June 10, 2022

Articles & Studies For Today And Tomorrow

“The Global Decline of Fertility Rates – Over the last 50 years, fertility rates have dropped drastically around the world. In 1952, the average global family had five children—now, they have less than three. Not including immigration, a given area needs an overall total fertility rate of 2.1 to keep a stable population.”, Our World In Data, June 10, 2022

To receive this biweekly newsletter, click here : https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

Our Mission, Information Sources & Who We Are

Our biweekly global business update newsletter focuses on what is happening around the worldthat impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment, economic development and travel. We daily monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our GlobalTeam™ covering 43 countries provides us with updates about what is happening in their specific countries. 

To sign up for our biweekly newsletter click here: https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

William (Bill) Edwards has a four-decade career successfully accelerating the international growth of more than 40 brands. He has directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Middle and Near East and has lived in China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey.

Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for companies Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets, providing in-country operations support and problem solving around the world. EGS has twice received the U.S. President’s Award for Export Excellence.

www.edwardsglobal.com

Download our latest chart ranking 40+ countries as places to do business at this link:

Our latest GlobalVue™ 40 country ranking

For advice on doing business successfully across 40+ countries, contact Bill Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896. 

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 57, Tuesday, May 30, 2022

To receive this biweekly newsletter, click on this link:

https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”, Dwayne Johnson

“There is nothing impossible to they who will try.”, Alexander the Great

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”, Robin Williams

Highlights in issue #57:

• German business morale rises in May on buoyant services sector

• Shanghai will exit two months of COVID lockdowns on Wednesday.

• Why chicken is getting more and more expensive

• Visualizing the State of Global Debt, by Country

• QR Codes Are More Than Digital Menus

• Brand Global News Section: Focus Brands, McDonald’s®, Nike®, Starbucks® and Wendy’s®

Interesting Data and Studies

“The death of globalisation has been greatly exaggerated – So far, slowdown in cross-border activity reflects slowdown in growth. The global elite gathered at Davos this week for what by all accounts has been a gloomy affair. Among business leaders the talk is all about globalisation going into reverse. As the chart below shows, until the first quarter of this year merchandise trade gave little indication of deglobalisation for rich countries, China, or the 20 biggest economies (advanced and emerging) taken together. Indeed the IMF’s own research shows that the world now trades more than it had projected three years ago.”, The Financial Times,

“Visualizing the State of Global Debt, by Country  –  Since COVID-19 started its spread around the world in 2020, the global economy has been put to the test with supply chain disruptions, price volatility for commodities, challenges in the job market, and declining income from tourism. To analyze the extent of global debt, we’ve compiled debt-to-GDP data by country from the most recent World Economic Outlook report by the IMF.”, Visual Capitalist and International Monetary Fund, February 1, 2022

“War in Ukraine Is a Boon for NATO – The trans-Atlantic relationship has found renewed purpose since Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. Most of NATO’s expansion since the end of the Cold War in 1991 occurred from 1999 to 2004 and centered on former Warsaw Pact or Soviet states seeking to anchor themselves in the West and lock in security guarantees against Russia.”, Geopolitical Futures, May 20, 2022

Global Energy

“(UK) EV Rapid Charging Costs Soar 20% in Eight Months – Rapid charging an electric car has become a fifth more expensive in eight months due to soaring energy prices, new figures show. RAC analysis found that the average price of using a public rapid charger in Britain increased from 36.7p per kilowatt hour (kWh) in September last year to 44.6p per kWh this month……The RAC attributed the increase to a 65% spike in the wholesale cost of electricity, which was driven by surging gas prices.”, Bloomberg, May 26, 2022

Global Supply Chain, Commodities & Trade Update

“In 2021 Russia and Ukraine were the world’s first and fifth biggest exporters of wheat, shipping 39m tonnes and 17m tonnes respectively—28% of the world market. They also grow a lot of grain used to feed animals, such as maize and barley, and are the number one (Ukraine) and number two (Russia) producers of sunflower seeds, which means they have 11.5% of the vegetable-oil market. All told, they provide almost an eighth of the calories traded worldwide.”, The Economist, May 19, 2022

Global, Regional & Local Travel Updates

“Tourism in Asia is bouncing back, but can the rebound survive a global recession? From Singapore and Malaysia to Indonesia, Thailand and Japan, inbound travel protocols are being relaxed and international visitors welcomed back. But the region’s tourism rebound risks being grounded by the combined effects of soaring food prices, runaway inflation and global supply chain disruptions. The sigh of relief was palpable across Asia as countries began lifting strict Covid-19 movement restrictions to allow in foreign travellers after two years of living in the shadow of the coronavirus.”, South China Morning Post, May 28, 2022

“Paris Tourism Rebounds as Europeans and Americans Return – Hotel prices in late April up 17% from 2019, according to MKG Jump comes as most Covid restrictions dropped, dollar rises. The city is the second-most sought-after destination worldwide this year, behind London, according to booking website aggregator Trivago. That has steadily pushed up hotel room rates and occupancy since the beginning of the year.”, Bloomberg, May 23, 2022

“Singapore Air Says Business Travel Is Climbing Its Way Back – Airline said Wednesday its net loss narrowed in second half Sees strong passenger growth this year as travel curbs eased. ‘Since April of this year, when Singapore fully opened its borders, we have seen a strong rebound in corporate travel,’ the carrier’s executive vice president of commercial operations, Lee Lik Hsin, said at a briefing Thursday.”, Bloomberg, May 19, 2022

Country & Regional Updates

Australia

“Unemployment rate falls to lowest level in 50 years – That is the lowest level since 1974 and the sixth consecutive monthly gain in employment. ‘In April, we saw employment rise by 4000 people and unemployment fall by 11,000 people,’ ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis said on Thursday. ‘As a result, the unemployment rate decreased slightly in April, though remained level, in rounded terms, with the revised March rate of 3.9 per cent.’”, News.com.au, May 19, 2022

Canada

“Seismic reinvention of shopping malls accelerates in COVID’s wake – Reports of a ‘retail apocalypse’ don’t tell the whole story about what’s happening in Canadian shopping malls. The truth is more complex, with wins and losses leading to a revolution in retail. While e-commerce has been a catalyst for change, it hasn’t meant the end of retail stores. Customers are using malls for curbside pickups and inspirational window shopping to get ideas about what they want to buy online. And more online retailers could be opening return centres in retail complexes to make it more convenient for customers to send back merchandise.”, The Globe and Mail, May 17, 2022

China

“Shanghai will exit two months of COVID lockdowns on Wednesday. The hard part will be restarting the city’s economy. China’s economy is currently in a slump not seen since early 2020, with retail sales down 11% and industrial output down 3% in April compared to the same period last year. But the downturn in Shanghai, which implemented the strongest COVID controls of all Chinese cities battling Omicron outbreaks this year, is significantly greater.”, Fortune,  May 30, 2022

“Visualizing China’s $18 Trillion Economy in One Chart – China is the world’s second largest economy after the U.S., and it is expected to eventually climb into the number one position in the coming decades. While China’s economy has had a much rockier start this year due to zero-tolerance COVID-19 lockdowns and supply chain issues, our visualization covers a full year of data for 2021⁠—a year in which most economies recovered after the initial chaos of the pandemic.”, Visual Capitalist and National Bureau of Statics of China, May 18, 2022

Germany

“German business morale rises in May on buoyant services sector – German business morale rose unexpectedly in May thanks to a pick up in the services sector in Europe’s largest economy that helped offset the impact of high inflation, supply chain problems and the war in Ukraine, a survey showed on Monday. ‘The German economy is showing resilience,’ Ifo economist Klaus Wohlrabe told Reuters, adding that service providers were benefiting from the easing of COVID-19 restrictions – especially in the tourism and hospitality sector. The situation in the industrial sector was more difficult.”, Reuters, May 23, 2022

India

“India Inflation Fight, Monsoon May Take Pressure Off RBI, Former Deputy Governor Says – Repo rate can rise 50 bps in June, and another 25 bps by March. Government-RBI steps may cool inflation within target of 6%. India’s coordinated fiscal and monetary efforts to tame inflation, plus a good agricultural production outlook, may take pressure off the central bank to aggressively raise interest rates later in the year, according to a former Reserve Bank of India official.”, Bloomberg, May 30, 2022

Mexico

“Mexico’s Economy Rebounded in First Quarter on US Demand – Output climbs 1% in first quarter, above initial 0.9% print Export-based economy relies on US demand, No. 1 trade partner. ‘It would be desirable for us to grow more, but it’s not bad growth,’ said Janneth Quiroz Zamora, vice president of economic research at Monex Casa de Bolsa. ‘There was an impact of Omicron, but it wasn’t as strong or as pronounced as was expected.’”, Bloomberg, May 25, 2022

Russia

“McDonald’s on Pushkinskaya will open under a new name on June 12 – Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that after the name change, McDonald’s will remain the same menu. According to him, the authorities will support the resumption of the company under a new brand. The mayor noted that the departure of McDonald’s from Russia was discussed as “a huge loss and disaster”, but it turned out that 95-98% of the products used by the network are Russian.”, www.gazeta.ru, May 26, 2022. Compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto

“Nike Is Reportedly Leaving Russia After Not Renewing Main Franchise Contract – U.S. sporting heavyweight Nike is exiting Russia after suspending operations in March, according to news reports on Wednesday, another symbolic departure of a major American brand as multinational firms including McDonald’s and Starbucks sever ties with Moscow for invading Ukraine.”, Forbes, May 25, 2022

“Starbucks joins McDonald’s in pulling out of Russia – The giant coffee chain, which had already suspended all business activity in Russia in March, said it had now decided ‘to exit and no longer have a brand presence in the market’. Starbucks does not have any cafés in Ukraine but in Russia it has 130 outlets that are wholly owned and operated by a licensed partner, Alshaya Group, of Kuwait, which has 2,000 so-called ‘green apron partners’.”, The Times of London, May 24, 200

Saudi Arabia

“Saudi Arabia steps into the Davos limelight – Flush with oil revenue, the kingdom and its Gulf neighbours are a rare economic bright spot. Despite a dire human rights record, the Gulf country wants the world to focus on its economic story: the world’s top oil exporter is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise shaky global economy wracked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and surging inflation.”, The Financial Times, May 27, 2022

United Kingdom

“Food and drink sales in Britain’s cities back in growth as workers and visitors return – The Top Cities Vibrancy report reveals buoyant Spring sales for restaurants, pubs and bars as Bristol is ranked Britain’s most vibrant city, while northern hubs bounce back…… nine of the ten cities recorded higher sales over the four-week period than in the same period in 2019. Bristol tops the list of most vibrant cities, and sales growth was also above 8% in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.:”, CGA Strategy, May 7, 2022

“Why chicken is getting more and more expensive – The price of chicks is up 14% in a year. Chicken feed is up 50% over 2 years. Packaging, diesel and wages are up double digits…..Prices from the farm gate have already risen by almost 50% in a year.”, BBC News, May 24, 2022

United States

“US Economic Data Signals Firmer Growth That May Ease by Yearend – Consumer spending off to a solid start early in second quarter. Manufacturing gauges soften, while housing market stumbles. Firmer consumer spending and a decisive narrowing of the merchandise trade deficit show the US economy is emerging in short order from a first-quarter pothole. Sustaining that momentum later this year is more of a question mark as manufacturing and housing soften along with employment and wage growth.”, Bloomberg, May 28, 2022

“Visualizing U.S. Crude Oil and Petroleum Product Imports in 2021 – Despite being the world’s largest oil producer, in 2021 the U.S. still imported more than 3 billion barrels of crude oil and petroleum products, equal to 43% of the country’s consumption. This visualization uses data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to compare U.S. crude oil and refined product imports with domestic crude oil production, and breaks down which countries the U.S. imported its oil from in 2021.”, Visual Capitalist, May 16, 2022

Brand News

“Focus Brands announces first (international) franchise operations support center – The center will see Focus Brands provide high-quality coaching to improve customer service. The Customer Experience Center of Excellence (CECE) will be located in Heredia, Costa Rica. CECE’s job will be to provide an affordable and effective means to deliver world-class customer service and ultimately, improve the performance of all franchisees.”, Global Franchise, May 24, 2022

“What McDonald’s In Other Countries Is Really Like – McDonald’s is in over 100 countries around the globe, practically all of which have adapted the menu to reflect local cultural tastes while still maintaining some of the signature American items that the restaurant is known for. But what are some of those differences? For those whose curiosity is piqued, this is what McDonald’s is like in other countries.”, Mashed, May 27, 2022

“One of America’s Favorite Burger Chains May Soon Have a New Owner – Wendy’s largest shareholder is exploring moves that would improve the chain’s shareholder value. Trian Fund Management, a majority shareholder of Wendy’s, announced Tuesday that it is looking into a potential acquisition of the burger chain, in hopes of making the company more profitable. A recent SEC filing confirms that Trian, which owns a 19.4% stake in Wendy’s, is currently ‘explor[ing]…a potential transaction…to enhance shareholder value’—one which could involve a third party, and include an acquisition, merger, or other deal that would transfer control of Wendy’s.”, Eat this. Not That!, May 25, 2022

Articles & Studies For Today And Tomorrow

“Did You Really Think We’d Stop Shaking Hands? Humans are meant to be together, especially when it comes to conducting business. We yearn to see each other’s faces in person. And we want to touch and shake hands. The act of shaking hands dates back to medieval times when the world was a more dangerous place. It was a way to ensure your arms were free of anything intended to harm another. Millenia later, the Covid pandemic hit and we found ourselves anxiously disinfecting everything in sight, from packages of potato chips to our own kids.”, Skift, May 13, 2022

“QR Codes Are More Than Digital Menus – Several trending articles over the last year have cropped up maligning the ubiquity of QR codes, most prominently by Erin Woo the New York Times….The little black punctuated squares almost seemed self-replicating with their proliferation in an era of pandemic and its accompanying collective aversion to fomites and non-sanitized contact surfaces. From restaurant menus to payment portals, they have become a mainstay, almost necessitating a smartphone for everyday interactions.”, Forbes, May 30, 2022

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Our Mission, Information Sources & Who We Are

Our biweekly global business update newsletter focuses on what is happening around the world that impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment, economic development and travel. We daily monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our GlobalTeam™ covers 43 countries and provides us with updates about what is happening in their specific countries.  Please feel free to send us your input for the biweekly report. bedwards@edwardsglobal.com

To sign up for our biweekly newsletter click here: https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

William (Bill) Edwards, Your Newsletter Editor, has a four-decade career successfully accelerating the international growth of more than 40 brands. With experience in the franchise, oil and gas, information technology and management consulting sectors, he has directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Middle and Near East.  He has lived in China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey and has worked on projects in over 50 countries.

Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for companies Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets, providing in-country operations support and problem solving around the world. Our U.S. based executive team has experience living and working around the world. EGS has twice received the U.S. President’s Award for Export Excellence.

www.edwardsglobal.com

Download our latest chart ranking 40+ countries as places to do business at this link:

Our latest GlobalVue™ 40 country ranking

For advice on doing business successfully across 40+ countries, contact Bill Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896. 

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 56, Tuesday, May 17, 2022

To receive our biweekly newsletter, click on this link: https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“Play by the rules, but be ferocious.”, Phil Knight, Founder and CEO of Nike

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”, Henry David Thoreau

One small positive thought can change your whole day.”,  Zig Ziglar

Highlights in issue #56:

• Business Travel CEOs Say the Sector is Back as Border Controls Evaporate –

• European Union To Lift Airport And Airline Mask Requirements Next Week

• Visualizing Historical Oil Prices (1968-2022)

• China’s Economic Activity Collapses Under Xi’s Covid Zero Policy

• Almost 1,000 Companies Have Curtailed Operations in Russia

• How Inflation Changed The Price Of A Hamburger

• Brand Global News Section: Chipotle®, Denny’s®, McDonald’s®, Papa John’s® and Wendy’s®

Interesting Data and Studies

“How Inflation Changed The Price Of A Hamburger – Food and energy—the more volatile items in the Consumer Price Index—drove rising cost of living. Especially energy, in short supply following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ensuing sanctions, was a major culprit. Costs rose by more than 30% since April 2021 independent of the base effect, as energy prices had already reached pre-pandemic levels one year ago. Food prices also took some significant steps up, as seen in the example of shopping for hamburger ingredients.”, Forbes, May 13, 2022

“The World’s Population Density by Latitude – When you think about areas with high population densities, certain regions spring to mind. This could be a populous part of Asia or a cluster of cities in North America or Europe. Usually density comparisons are made using cities or countries, but this map from Alasdair Rae provides another perspective. This world map depicts population density by latitude, going from the densest populated coordinates in deep red to the sparsest in light blue.”, Visual Capitalist / Worldpop.org, 2020

Global Energy

“Visualizing Historical Oil Prices (1968-2022) – Amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the inflation-adjusted price of oil reached a seven-year high. Russia is one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil, and many countries have announced a ban on Russian oil imports amid the war. This has led to supply uncertainties and, therefore, rising prices.

How does the price increase compare to previous political and economic events? In this Markets in a Minute from New York Life Investments, we look at historical oil prices since 1968.”, Visual Capitalist / U.S.. Energy Information Administration, March 2022

Global Supply Chain & Trade Update

“Diversify global supply chains, don’t dismantle them, IMF says – The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on global supply chains but new International Monetary Fund research shows that more diversification of source countries and inputs can significantly reduce the economic drag from supply disruptions.

In an analytical chapter of its forthcoming World Economic Outlook, IMF researchers said that countries experienced larger declines of goods imports, and GDP, in the first half of 2020 when trading partners imposed strict COVID-19 lockdowns. ‘Dismantling global value chains is not the answer. More diversification, not less, improves resilience,’ the researchers wrote in a blog post accompanying the chapter.”, Reuters, April 12, 2022

Global, Regional & Local Travel Updates

“Business Travel CEOs Say the Sector is Back as Border Controls Evaporate – Fliers are spending big to get back in the air, and away from Zoom. Business travel, contrary to some expectations in the thick of the pandemic, is coming back. While bookings may not have reached pre-Covid levels, there’s mounting evidence of a rebound, the strength of which is taking some by surprise.”, Bloomberg, May 13, 2022

“European Union To Lift Airport And Airline Mask Requirements Next Week – The European Union says it will no longer require masks at airports and on planes starting next week throughout its 27-country bloc. The lifting of the mask mandate is in response to lowering COVID-19 cases throughout the EU, but officials say each member can decide for itself to reinstate the mask mandate should COVID-19 cases spike.”, Travel Awaits, May 13, 2022

Country & Regional Updates

China

“China’s Economic Activity Collapses Under Xi’s Covid Zero Policy – Factory output, retail plunged in April; joblessness rose Economists say Covid restrictions mean slow recovery. China’s economy is paying the price for the nation’s Covid Zero policy, with industrial output and consumer spending sliding to the worst levels since the pandemic began and analysts warning of no quick recovery.

Industrial output unexpectedly fell 2.9% in April from a year ago, while retail sales contracted 11.1% in the period, weaker than a projected 6.6% drop. The unemployment rate climbed to 6.1% and the youth jobless rate hit a record. Investors responded by selling everything from Chinese shares to US index futures and oil.”, Bloomberg, May 15, 2022

“Small Businesses Suffer as Lockdowns Cut Revenue, Cash Flow – China’s small businesses are grappling with tighter cash flow and diminishing revenue as their costs rise and demand weakens, a survey shows.

The pressure on smaller companies’ liquidity reflects the impact of the country’s “zero-Covid” strategy, as extended lockdowns disrupt or altogether prevent activity and weaken sentiment going forward. In the first quarter, the polled micro and small businesses had enough cash flow to operate for 2.4 months on average, down 0.3 months for the fourth quarter of 2021, according to a survey jointly conducted by Peking University and fintech giant Ant Group Co. Ltd.”, Caixin Global, May 13, 2022

European Union

“The European Union has downgraded its growth forecasts as high energy and food costs caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hit economies across Europe. GDP growth in both the EU and the eurozone is expected to be 2.7 per cent this year, down from its previous estimate of 4 per cent growth. Growth next year is forecast to slow to 2.3 per cent from 2.8 per cent (2.7 per cent in the eurozone) previously.

Inflation in the euro area, which hit 7.5 per cent in March, is projected to be 6.1 per cent this year, before falling to 2.7 per cent in 2023. This compares with the winter forecast of 3.5 per cent. For the EU, inflation is expected to increase to 6.8 per cent in 2022, up from 2.9 per cent in 2021, and fall back to 3.2 per cent  in 2023.”, The Times of London, May 16, 2022

India

“Morgan Stanley cuts India growth forecasts on inflation, global slowdown – Gross domestic product growth will be 7.6% for fiscal 2023 and 6.7% for fiscal 2024, 30 basis points lower than the previous estimates, the brokerage said in a note dated Tuesday.

The cut reflects a pronounced economic impact from the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has driven up crude prices, pushing retail inflation in India – the world’s third-biggest oil importer – to its highest in 17 months.”, Reuters, May 11, 2022

New Zealand

“New Zealand March Visitor Arrivals Surged 517% as Kiwis Returned – Overseas arrivals surged 517%, to 28,600 from 4,640 a year earlier, Statistics New Zealand said Thursday in Wellington. The total is the most since July last year, when New Zealand closed a quarantine-free travel arrangement with Australia amid concerns about a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections. New Zealand tourist operators are hopeful the progressive reopening of the border will revive their industry, which has been decimated since the pandemic struck in March 2020.”, Bloomberg, May 11, 2022

The Philippines

“Philippines’ Outperforming Economy Boosts Case for Rate Hike – First quarter GDP growth at 8.3% versus 6.8% survey estimate. Gross domestic product in the three months through March grew 8.3% from a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday, versus the median estimate for a 6.8% expansion in a Bloomberg survey. That compares with a revised 3.8% contraction in the same quarter in 2021.”, Bloomberg, May 12, 2022

Russia

“Almost 1,000 Companies Have Curtailed Operations in Russia—But Some Remain. Originally a simple “withdraw” vs. “remain” list, our list of companies now consists of five categories—graded on a school-style letter grade scale of A-F for the completeness of withdrawal.”, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and his team of experts, research fellows, and students at the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, May 16, 2022

United Kingdom

“UK Salaries Rise as Firms Face Growing Candidate Shortages – Fewer foreign workers, geopolitical uncertainty stoke scarcity REC report will fuel pressure on BOE for more rate increases. As candidate availability declined for the 14th straight month, starting-salary inflation held close to a record high, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG said in a report published Thursday.”, Bloomberg, May 11, 2022

“The economy contracted in March as the war in Ukraine and rising prices hit confidence, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Month-on-month gross domestic product fell 0.1 per cent. City economists had forecast flat growth. In the three months to the end of March the economy grew 0.8 per cent, against expectations for 1 per cent growth.”, The Times of London, May 12, 2022

United States

“Inflation remained near a 40-year high in April. Here’s where consumers plan to cut spending. If price pressure continues, more than 50% of adults say they’ll cut back spending on dining out and will consider reducing that further, according to the CNBC + Acorns Invest in You survey, conducted by Momentive. The online survey of nearly 4,000 adults was taken March 23-24.”, CNBC, May 11, 2022

“Double-digit jump in California export value reflects growth and inflation”, Beacon Economic, May 4, 2022

“iPod: technology’s ever changing beat – Enduring love of retro will ensure portable music device’s survival even as US tech group discontinues it.  RIP iPod. Apple’s pioneering music-in-your-pocket has gone the way of the BlackBerry, the 244-year-old Encyclopedia Britannica and the dodo. The Cupertino-based tech group this week said it was discontinuing the iPod Touch, its last remaining portable music device.

At 20 years, the iPod had half as long a run as Sony’s Walkman, its clunkier predecessor. The Walkman allowed 1980s cool kids to listen to music cassettes while rollerblading or doing aerobics.”, The Financial Times, May 13, 2022

Brand News

“Denny’s preps for growth as it hires Kelli Valade as CEO – Denny’s has appointed Kelli Valade as CEO and president, effective June 13, the company announced Tuesday. Valade will succeed John Miller, who is retiring on Aug. 3, but will retain his position on the board of directors to help ensure a seamless transition. Valade brings 30 years of experience, and most recently served as CEO at Red Lobster for less than a year. Prior to that position, she was CEO at Black Box Intelligence from 2019 to 2021 and held various roles within Brinker International.”, Restaurant Dive, May 4, 2022

“McDonald’s To Exit from Russia – After more than 30 years of operations in the country, McDonald’s Corporation announced it will exit the Russian market and has initiated a process to sell its Russian business. This follows McDonald’s announcement on March 8, 2022, that it had temporarily closed restaurants in Russia and paused operations in the market. The humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, and the precipitating unpredictable operating environment, have led McDonald’s to conclude that continued ownership of the business in Russia is no longer tenable, nor is it consistent with McDonald’s values.”, McDonald’s® press release, May 16, 2022

“McDonald’s Convenience of the Future digital orders offer 11 ways to get a meal –  Ordering and eating a Big Mac and fries from a McDonald’s restaurant used to be a binary experience: you went up to the counter, placed your order with a member of the crew and either ate it on the premises or took it away with you.

No longer. A new-look restaurant, unveiled today under the fast-food operator’s £250 million Convenience of the Future investment programme, reflects customers’ increasingly diverse expectations, providing 11 ways of getting a meal. The revamp also reflects the fact that about half of sales are now made through digital channels. In addition to the traditional walk-in and drive-thru, a redesign of the kitchens and dining areas caters to the growth of digital sales channels such as self-order touchscreen terminals….”, The Times of London, May 16, 2022

“Papa Johns plans to open nearly 2,000 stores by the end of 2025 – The quick-service pizza restaurant chain announces big development plans after reporting a successful first quarter, ending with same-store sales up 1.9% in North America. In addition to the sales growth, the Louisville-based pizza chain is also planning an aggressive footprint expansion — especially in international markets — with plans for 1,400-1,800 new stores opening by the end of 2025, and 320 units opening in fiscal ’22, CEO Rob Lynch said.”, Nation’s Restaurant News, May 5, 2022

“Restaurants’ Virtual Stores Test Consumers’ Appetite for Metaverse Marketing

Wendy’s and Chipotle join a growing number of companies exploring the potential of virtual worlds – Fast-food chains Wendy’s Co. and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. are testing new experiences in virtual worlds as brands try to better understand the marketing potential of the metaverse. The metaverse is a term used to describe a virtual environment in which people can use digital avatars to work, play and shop. The concept has drawn attention particularly since the parent company of Facebook last year promised to spend heavily on building the metaverse and changed its name to Meta Platforms Inc.

Wendy’s last week opened a virtual restaurant in Horizon Worlds, the virtual reality game from Meta. Visitors cannot buy food there, virtual or otherwise, but they can play a basketball-themed game located near the restaurant.”, The Wall Street Journal, April 5, 2022

Articles & Studies For Today And Tomorrow

“The State of Global Democracy in 2022 – The world’s (almost) eight billion people live under a wide variety of political and cultural circumstances. In broad terms, those circumstances can be measured and presented on a sliding scale between “free” and “not free”—the subtext being that democracy lies on one end, and authoritarianism on the other.

According to EIU, the state of democracy is at its lowest point since the index began in 2006, blamed in part on the pandemic restrictions that saw many countries struggling to balance public health with personal freedom.”, Visual Capitalist, May 13, 2022

“IFA CEO on what’s ahead for franchise businesses – The past two years have presented unique challenges, with business owners managing the impact of the pandemic and, more recently, elevated inflation. Matthew Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association, discusses the growth outlook for franchising, the group’s advocacy efforts and the advantages of franchised businesses.”, SmartBrief, May 12, 2022

“Coffee Producing Countries 2022 – There’s a prime location for coffee growth and it is called the Bean Belt. This title refers to the area between 25° N and 30° S. Coffee thrives in warmer locations, so anywhere that is too extreme in relation to the northern and southern poles will not be substantial or feasible places to grow coffee. Coffee exportation, as well as coffee as imports, is most common in Africa, Asia, South America, and North America, with the exception of the country of Canada.”, World Population Review, May 13, 2022

“Asia’s net-zero transition: Opportunity and risk amid climate action – Within just a few generations, life expectancy in Asia–Pacific has more than doubled, the infant mortality rate has fallen more than 70 percent and per capita GDP has risen nearly eighty-fold. People are living longer, healthier, and more prosperous lives. Yet, the environmental cost of human progress, in Asia and elsewhere, is now threatening the stability of the Earth’s climate.”, McKinsey, April 29, 2022

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Our biweekly global business update newsletter focuses on what is happening around the worldthat impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment, economic development and travel. We daily monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our GlobalTeam™ covers 43 countries and provides us with updates about what is happening in their specific countries.  Please feel free to send us your input for the biweekly report. bedwards@edwardsglobal.com

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William (Bill) Edwards, Your Newsletter Editor, has a four-decade career successfully accelerating the international growth of more than 40 brands. With experience in the franchise, oil and gas, information technology and management consulting sectors, he has directed projects on-site in Alaska, Asia, Europe and the Middle and Near East.  He has lived in China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey and has worked on projects in over 50 countries.

Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS) provides a complete International solution for companies Going Global. From initial global market research and country prioritization, to developing new international markets, providing in-country operations support and problem solving around the world. Our U.S. based executive team has experience living and working around the world. EGS has twice received the U.S. President’s Award for Export Excellence.

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