Business

McDonald's serves up £100m each year to north's economy

McDonald's delivers almost £100 million each year to the Northern Ireland economy, a new report shows
McDonald's delivers almost £100 million each year to the Northern Ireland economy, a new report shows McDonald's delivers almost £100 million each year to the Northern Ireland economy, a new report shows

FAST food giant McDonald's delivers almost £100 million each year to the Northern Ireland economy, a new report has revealed.

Independent economic analysis from Development Economics, commissioned to celebrate 45 years of the American chain operating in the UK, shows the value of McDonald's to the north's economy.

According to the figures, the business and its suppliers have made a combined contribution of £99m annually to Northern Ireland - £22m of which has gone to local farmers, as well as providing employment for 4,732 people.

Of this number 3,097 work in the chain's 29 restaurants in the north, with 778 employed in the supply chain and 857 in the wider economy.

The report further highlights how McDonald's continues to grow its local operations , directly investing more than £45m in the north since 2017 and creating 3,100 jobs in the same period.

Overall, the McDonald's business and its supply chain is said to be worth £3.36bn annually to the UK economy and over the past 45 years the total economic contribution is estimated at a colossal £54.4bn. The restaurant chain has also invested £35.6bn with UK businesses and created 2.1 million jobs during the same period.

Paul Pomroy, chief executive office for McDonald’s UK said the business will continue to invest in its UK operations.

"With our unparalleled reach across the UK, we have a unique opportunity to create change and to make a real and lasting impact in the local areas that we serve," he said.

"Our people are at the heart of these communities and, as a responsible and proud employer, we are committed to investing in them. The 125,000 colleagues working in our restaurants and offices are central to our past, present and future success and innovation.

"Today’s restaurants would be unrecognisable from 45 years ago. In the last five years, we have introduced table service, the My McDonald’s app and McDelivery. We have not stood still, and we will continue to change for the better, guided by our customers, our people and our communities.”

McDonald’s has more than 1,270 restaurants in the UK and employs more than 120,000 people.