McDonald’s plans to open 400 new drive-thru sites in the UK adding 1,800 new jobs annually to the company.
The group, which currently has 750 drive-thru restaurants in the UK out of its c1,200-strong estate, plans to open 30 a year from next year and is seeking 3,600sq ft restaurant units with parking or ½ acre sites.
The primary vehicle for the expansion will be freestanding drive-thru restaurants where convenience is key or locations in new or existing retail and leisure parks and transport hubs where visits are often part of a linked trip.
Last year, Henry Trickie, the fast food chain’s vice-president of development said that the company believed the high street market on which it has c350 sites was saturated and that was now switching its focus to drive-thru outlets instead.
He said: “Our plan is to open drive-through outlets pretty much exclusively. We already have strong coverage across most shopping centres and high streets, so there is little opportunity for us there. We are looking for a mix of sites, both in large markets where we already have one or two drive-thus, and in smaller towns where we are not yet represented in this format.
“We have no particular timeframe for this expansion. Drive-throughs take, on average, two to three years to open, as you have to go through the planning process. We want the best sites and the best locations, and that takes time.”
