McDonald’s HQ is back in Chicago
CHICAGO: Global fast-food giant McDonald’s Corp has unveiled its new headquarters in Chicago, a move company officials say is intended to attract top talent.
McDonald’s had been based in a forested campus in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook since the 1970s.
“The move gets McDonald’s closer to the competition and closer to the trends that are shaping the future of a society in which we want to compete and succeed,” chief executive Steve Easterbrook said.
He said the nine-storey building’s cement floors, metal and glass accents, and amenities were designed to remind employees to be creative and think outside the box. The second floor is occupied by Hamburger University, the company’s training programme for managers.
The new headquarters in the city’s West Loop was built on the former grounds of Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios.
The opening of the new headquarters comes as McDonald’s has been on a winning streak. The company’s stock is up more than 70% over the past three years.
Company officials point to moves such as rolling out an all-day breakfast menu and eliminating the use of antibiotics in its chicken with helping it improve sales.
Chris Kempczinski, president of McDonald’s USA, said that moving the headquarters was essential in the company’s ongoing effort to transform the brand.
“We believe this move is going to have a demonstrable impact on our customers,” he said.
McDonald’s is now looking for a buyer for its old headquarters campus in Oak Brook.