AKIPRESS.COM - McDonald's Corp. is aiming to beef up its image in China amid an economic slowdown that could send diners searching for cheaper alternatives, TradingFloor reported.
The company is overhauling a number of its China-based stores in places such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou using a local designer, according to a company statement. It also is launching a new advertising campaign that focuses on Chinese aspirations and is recruiting more locals to run its franchises in China.
McDonald's also plans to feature basketball star LeBron James in China-focused commercials later this year.
The move comes as China's economic growth slows. China reported Wednesday that first-quarter growth in the country fell to 7.4% from a year earlier, the lowest level in 18 months, from 7.7% in the fourth quarter. There is little sign that the economy will manage much faster growth in the near term.