McDonald’s is investing one billion pounds and creating over 24,000 jobs across the UK over the next four years

To mark its 50th anniversary in the UK, McDonald’s has announced plans to open over 200 new restaurants over the next four years (1), creating over 24,000 (2) new jobs and representing an investment of £1 billion by McDonald’s and its franchisees in the UK and Ireland.

These ambitions were revealed in the new report ‘McDonald’s at 50’, produced by planning and development consultancy Lichfields, which examines the positive impact the company has had on its communities across the country since it opened its doors on Woolwich High Street in 1974.

The new restaurants are part of an ongoing investment McDonald’s will make to ensure the company continues to meet evolving customer expectations. The rollout includes testing new restaurant formats, such as the recent opening of drive-to restaurants and the testing of more smaller formats this year, to ensure each new restaurant meets the needs of the community in which it operates.

The plans also include a renewed focus on opening restaurants on high streets, demonstrating a continued commitment to supporting successful high streets across the country as town centres continue to evolve and respond to a variety of challenges.

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In addition to new restaurants, the company will continue to modernise and redesign more than 1,500 existing restaurants in the UK and Ireland.

The Report “McDonald’s at 50” tells the story of McDonald’s massive contribution to the British economy. In 2023 alone, it will report on the more than £2 billion spent McDonald’s with British suppliers and farmers, and the 209,475 jobs which were supported by McDonald’s across the UK.

The report looks back over the last five years and outlines the £618 million invested McDonald’s in delivering new restaurants and upgrades that provide the best possible customer experience, alongside nearly £1.37 billion McDonald’s UK-based suppliers have invested in improving their production and distribution over the same period.

The report also shows that in the 50 years that McDonald’s has been operating in the UK, £94.45 billion Figures the company has contributed to the UK economy since opening (more details below).

The report also highlights:

• 209,475 jobs(3) were supported by McDonald’s across the UK in 2023, including 171,415 people are directly employed by McDonald’s and its franchisees.
• £618 million Between 2018 and 2023, McDonald’s invested in opening new restaurants and modernizations to provide the best possible customer experience
• 41 new restaurants were opened by McDonald’s in 2023, the highest number in two decades
• £14.8 million was raised by McDonald’s, its customers and franchisees for charitable causes in 2023, including £10.3 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK and £4.5 million for local charities donated by franchisees
• Over £4 million has been raised for BBC Children in Need since 2021. McDonald’s and BBC Children in Need have also partnered to launch Makin’ It: a nationwide initiative that brings McDonald’s restaurants together with local youth projects and youth workers to provide real opportunities for young people in the areas where they live.
• Over £51.56 billion McDonald’s has spent on British suppliers and farmers since 1974
• In 2023 alone, McDonald’s spent over £2 billion with UK-based suppliers and farmers.
• £94.45 billion (Gross Value Added(4), approximately) has been contributed to the UK economy since McDonald’s opened its doors 50 years ago. This includes the impact of McDonald’s restaurants as well as additional activity along the supply chain and the wider economy.
• In 2023, our UK-based suppliers invested over £100 million improving their production and distribution, and this number rises to almost £1.37 billion, over the last five years, which represents a significant amount of capital investment.

Alistair Macrow, CEO of McDonald’s UK&I, said: “We have come a long way since we opened our doors in Woolwich 50 years ago. We have become an important part of communities across the UK and I am delighted that in this milestone year we can demonstrate our continued commitment to growth and announce the creation of new jobs across the country as we plan to open over 200 new restaurants over the next four years.

“This is a moment to celebrate but also to look ahead to what comes next. Whether that’s continuing to offer our customers the best value for money, investing in our restaurants, supporting our suppliers across the UK or launching new initiatives for young people where our communities need them most.

“We are proud of what we have achieved over the last 50 years and are committed to investing in new opportunities and supporting growth across the UK.”