The competition (be it chains or independents) have overtaken most of the GJ's in the unprotected locations (they still have some great shopping centre spots that do big trade without any decent alternative nearby) and many of their stores are now looking tired and dated having gone through their boom time around 3-6 years ago. Some shopping centre leases force tenants to renovate and refurbish at certain intervals. This article is perhaps their attempt to capture some mindshare given all the airplay McDonalds has received (good and bad) and let's not forget it's peak season right now, so the spin doctors have been told to get the message out while it's relevant - timing is everything with marketing. A paradox of terminolgy - a franchised chain believing they can be called specialty coffee ?
