The food business is different from most other businesses in that the people behind the product are, perhaps, more important than the product itself. It is a sensitive relationship. It calls for trust - which, in turn, emanates from the ethics, values and policies of the people who run the show.
Ever since the "Pune Incident" I have been boycotting McDonald restaurants on principle. In that incident, a child from the economically backward, less privileged section of society was taken into the restaurant by another customer who wanted to give the boy a little treat. The security guard at the restaurant threw the kid out. When the incident was brought to the notice of the management, they initially tried to justify their act by saying something utterly moronic about the presence of the street kid making other customers uncomfortable. Later, they had to beat a hasty retreat; the outlet in question was shut for three days. After that, it reopened and today, I’m sure it’s business as usual. Public memory is short - and McDonald knew it only too well.
I, however, do not forget. These big corporates must know that this is 2015, not pre-Independence India. This bias, discrimination and social injustice cannot be tolerated. It’s not just about the taste of the food - it’s also about ethics, values and doing things right. How can you call yourself a McDonald’s Family Restaurant, when you don’t even know what the essence of the word "Family" entails?
So tI here you have it - I am no longer a McDonald Customer. I do not miss their unhealthy, fattening food. And, speaking for myself, I feel satisfied that one(small, meaningless) customer, at least, has stood up for the less-privileged. I am sure their are many others(I certainly hope there are) but at this moment, I can only speak for myself.