Fast food firms in race to the start line as chains prepare to re-open
Mcdonald’s, he country’s biggest fast food chain, is to reopen 15 stores on 13 May, as rivals Burger King and KFC prepare to launch new takeaway services next week.
It comes as the business has spent the past seven days “testing out” a new model that will ensure social distancing measures are enforced across branches.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mcdonald’s chief executive, Paul Pomroy, said the new restaurants will reopen on May 13. He said branches will be “different” as the nation adapts to a “new normal”.
“When we return it will be different as we all adjust to this new normal,” he said.
Elsewhere, Burger King has said it hopes to open at least 350 of its restaurants by the end of June as part of a staggered re-opening after the lockdown. It has already announced plans to open eight branches out of its current crop of 500.
KFC has more than doubled the number of outlets open for business with plans to take the total number of branches serving customers again to 100 by the end of the week.
Next week, TGI Friday’s will reopen 24 restaurants for deliveries while Pret a Manger will reopen 20 branches. Wagamama will also launch a trial at four London restaurants. Wetherspoons has also spoken out on plans to reopen though the Government has warned that this will be subject to lockdown measures and whether they will be relaxed by early-summer.
Meanwhile Greggs has stalled plans for the reopening of 20 stores amid concerns that the move could attract crowds of eager customers.
The bakery had hoped to see the sites open on Monday However reaction to the news that the sausage roll and steak bake specialist was planning to open its doors once again has led it to believe demand could be high, prompting further testing of these methods.
A spokesperson said: “Due to significant interest in our 20-shop trial, and the risk that excessive numbers of customers may plan to visit Greggs, we will now initially operate these trials behind closed doors.