Four Franchisors Among World's Most Ethical Companies

What company is more likely to be upfront about having "chopped down the cherry tree"?

Four franchisors have been named in 2007 among a very small list of the World's Most Ethical Companies as rated by Ethisphere Magazine, a publication dedicated to compliance, ethics and corporate social responsibility. Ethisphere states, "the elite list of companies was recognized for their strong leadership in ethics and compliance, advancement of industry discourse on social and ethical issues, and positive engagement in the communities in which they operate...Each company forces other companies to follow its leadership or fall behind"

• McDonald's (Food)
• Berkshire Hathaway (Dairy Queen - Food)
• Marriott (Hotel)
• Accor (Hotel)

Ethisphere thinks that McDonald's may raise a few eyebrows. "How can McDonald's be on the list? The food service industry is the largest industry in the world--and McDonald's has clearly stood apart in introducing healthier food fare, sustainable packaging, food safety, and ethical purchasing practices," say the editors in launching the index.