McDonald’s could create thousands of UK jobs with 200 new restaurants set to open across the UK.
The mega fast food chain’s massive expansion is set to take place across the UK and Ireland by 2028. Currently, there are 1,435 restaurants in the UK operating under the iconic golden arches and it employs over 170,000 people. Around 80 percent of the fast food restaurants are franchised.
McDonald’s is undergoing its biggest expansion since 2002 and says the £1 billion investment is aimed at “supporting successful high streets” as the company celebrated 50 years of operating in the UK.
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It is not yet clear where the new restaurants are due to open, but existing locations will also be upgraded, the company said.
Alistair Macrow, the chief executive of McDonald’s UK&I, said: “We have come a long way since we first opened our doors in Woolwich 50 years ago. I’m delighted that in this milestone year we are able to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to growth, and announce the creation of new jobs across the country.
“It’s a moment to celebrate, and also to look ahead to what’s next. 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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“We’re proud of what we have delivered in the last 50 years and are committed to investing in new opportunities and supporting growth across the UK.”
It comes as a Just Eat advertisement on Facebook featuring McDonald’s burgers was banned for failing to take enough care to ensure the promotion was not aimed at children aged under 16.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said anti-junk food youth campaign group Bite Back 2030 had complained in December last year about the ad, claiming it promoted products high in fat, salt or sugar to under-16s through the social media platform it appeared on.
The paid-for Facebook ad said: “Fancy a McMuffin in the morning? McNugget for lunch? Or a big night in with a Big Mac? Get them delivered right here.”
(Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
It also had a changing image of McNuggets that was replaced by the Just Eat and McDonald’s logos.
The ASA said food delivery firm Just Eat understood that the meat versions of the Big Mac and McMuffin were products deemed to be high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) – products for which there are strict rules regarding marketing to under-16s.
A Just Eat spokesman said: “By filtering targeting to users aged over 18, we believe we took reasonable precautions to avoid protected age groups from seeing the advertisement.
“Although we are disappointed by this outcome, Just Eat acknowledges the ASA’s concern.”
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