| Presented by | | | | | How do you separate a business from its brand? That's what the new owner of the chain formerly known as McDonald's in Russia is about to find out. This week, McDonald's announced it's selling and "de-Arching" its more than 800 restaurants there, which still employ some 62,000 people. But what will the chain really be without the Golden Arches?
"We’re talking about one of the most storied, potent, and familiar brands in the history of capitalism," writes Rob Walker in this week's Branded column. And there are already copycats popping up. "The whole episode highlights how much meaning and value a brand can express," he writes. "On the most basic, everyday level, McDonald’s customers don’t just want 'a burger,' they want a McDonald’s burger. Part of that involves basic quality assurances, but there’s also something more abstract: the idea of McDonald’s." Read his column here.
— Bobbie Gossage | | | | | | | | | | The hidden cost of new homes | A recent study in the UK found that homes built after 2009 had far less access to local green space than those built earlier. This can have devastating effects. | READ MORE | | | | | |