Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


4

Booming Mickey D's Plans European Surge

Global downturn? They're lovin' it

Share

(Newser) – A rare beneficiary of the financial crisis, McDonald’s says it will build 240 new European locations and create 12,000 jobs, the Financial Times reports. The firm’s biggest expansion in 5 years will extend mainly to Spain, France, Italy, Russia, and Poland. “We’re certainly not slowing down,” said the president of McDonald’s Europe.

McDonald's was one of only two Dow members to see share values grow last year and expects to show a 10% surge in fourth quarter profits. The company's numbers were already rising thanks to an expanded menu, but as food prices inflate, a meal at McDonald's has become “a better deal than necessarily eating at home,” company executives say.

A McDonald's fast-food restaurant sign glows above the city skyline on July 24, 2008 located in the Figueroa Corridor area of South Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
A McDonald's fast-food restaurant sign glows above the city skyline on July 24, 2008 located in the Figueroa Corridor area of South Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.   (Getty Images)
McDonald's is expanding in Europe.
McDonald's is expanding in Europe.   (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
The chain will be adding 240 restaurants, at 50 jobs each.
The chain will be adding 240 restaurants, at 50 jobs each.   (PRNewsFoto/McDonald's USA)
A signature Big Mac sandwich. Europe will be seeing more of these.
A signature Big Mac sandwich. Europe will be seeing more of these.   (AP Photo/McDonald's Corp.)
A McDonald's employee hands out food as she waits on customers at their new drive-thru facility on January 19, 2007 in Beijing, China.
A McDonald's employee hands out food as she waits on customers at their new drive-thru facility on January 19, 2007 in Beijing, China.   (Getty Images)
John Francis, who owns the McDonald's in Sidney, Mont., poses for a photo in front a sign he is using to attract potential new employees, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007.
John Francis, who owns the McDonald's in Sidney, Mont., poses for a photo in front a sign he is using to attract potential new employees, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007.   (AP Photo/Ellen Wznick)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
4 comments
VIEWING:
 
NutsInNY
Jan 25, 09 7:58 AM CST
How do you say "morbidly obese" in European? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
PosterNutbag
Jan 25, 09 12:35 PM CST
Geographically, I would think Europe is too small to absorb all of the fat asses that will result from this venture. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Newser001
Jan 25, 09 1:57 PM CST
Some stats point to 48%+ increase in European volume... It maybe unhealthy, but used reasonably / occasionally, it's not all that bad. You've got to admit, nothing seems to impact their sales, nothing. And yes, the hamburger and fries taste exactly the same in Kobe, Paris, and your local McDonald's (with a few regional tweaks to the menu)... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Mad
Jan 25, 09 3:55 PM CST
I claim great pride in the fact my children never ever ate at McDonalds. My now adult children laugh about how they are the only ones amongst their peers who never tasted a Happy Meal Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

18 Stories

 McDonald's Gets 
 Euro-Chic Makeover 

But 'it looks like Swatch had a baby with Ikea'

Nov 19, 09 12:41 PM CST
(Newser) - McDonald’s is getting a makeover, starting with one New York restaurant that now features a sleek, European-inspired look, flat-screen TVs, and free wi-fi. The redesign features employees in all-black uniforms and “Danish Modern furniture,” reports the AP —or, as Daniel Maurer writes in New York , “... More »

MORE ABOUT:
McDonald's • Europe • New York • fast food • McDonald's makeover

FLOUNDERING CHAIN

 How Arby's Lost Its Beefiness 

Don't blame recession: fast-food chain just isn't trying

Nov 8, 09 10:26 AM CST
(Newser) - The recession has had its winners and losers, and when it comes to fast food, Arby's is bringing up the rear. Same-stores sales have been down for the last seven quarters, writes Daniel Gross for Slate, but the economy can't take the entire rap on this one: Arby's just doesn't... More »

MORE ABOUT:
McDonald's • beef • fast food • fast food industry • Arby's

Subway Will Soon Have More Stores Than McDonald's

But sandwich chain still lags behind McD's in sales

Sep 22, 09 5:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Subway is nearing a milestone: the sandwich chain will soon have more global locations than McDonald’s, Ad Age reports. The chain is expanding so quickly that it's expected to have 31,800 stores by the end of the week. It's probably just a matter of months before it surpasses... More »

MORE ABOUT:
globalization • McDonald's • fast food • restaurant • Subway

18 Stories


McDonald's to invest $1.1B in Europe
Forbes


World  •  Business 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
McDonald's • Europe • fast food • restaurant • fast food industry • expansion • job • downturn • financial crisis

from our news partners