McDonald’s plans to invest £1bn in more than 200 new restaurants in the UK by 2027.
The company outlined its ambitions, which it said will create more than 24,000 new jobs, in a report to mark its 50th anniversary in the UK.
McDonald’s at 50, prepared by planning and development consultancy Lichfields, analysed the company’s impact on communities nationwide and its £94.5bn contribution in the UK economy since it opened on Woolwich High Street, SE18, in 1974.
Its plans include a renewed focus on opening high street restaurants, as well as “drive to” locations and newer, smaller store formats. It will also continue upgrading and redesigning its 1,500 existing restaurants across the UK and Ireland.
McDonald’s has invested £618m in delivering new restaurants in the past five years. Last year, it opened 41 restaurants – the highest number in two decades.
In May, the company submitted a planning application to the City of London Corporation to reoccupy its former site at 54 King William Street, EC4, and transform the vacant location into a restaurant. That building was one of the first McDonald’s restaurants in the UK.
Alistair Macrow, chief executive officer of McDonald’s UK&I, said: “We have become an important part of communities across the UK. Whether that’s continuing to provide the best value for our customers, investing in our restaurants, supporting our suppliers across the UK or launching new initiatives for young people where our communities need them most.”
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