POOCH PERFECT
The Golden Arches is celebrating its golden anniversary in Australia - 50 years of burgers, fries and shakes.
Three decades, and three franchisees share their tales.
It’s an icon of fast food that has raised its unmistakable red and yellow branding across the Aussie landscape since opening up the first outlet in Yagoona, New South Wales back in 1971.
Today the global business has more than 1000 outlets across Australia (85 per cent of them franchised), employing more than 107,000 people and serving a staggering 2 million Aussies daily.
It is also the largest employer of young people in the country. In the last five decades it has created job opportunities for more than 1.5 million Australians: every new restaurant brings about 120 employment opportunities.
Since McDonald’s became a Registered Training Organisation in 1995, more than 47,000 employees have completed nationally-recognised training courses in retail and food safety.
Even top boss CEO Andrew Gregory started out at Macca’s as a crew member.
“In my experience, McDonald’s is a business that has an amazing ability to provide opportunities for our employees, franchisees and suppliers. I’m very proud of the way our business continues to work together and always moves as one,” he tells Inside Franchise Business.
McDonald's is renowned for many elements of its business - processes and systems, property ownership, constant innovation, the three-legged stool approach to partnerships, franchisee and team member training.
So what is it that Andrew Gregory considers most influential to the brand's success and to franchisees' success?
“One of our greatest achievements has been establishing McDonald’s as
a positive part of the local Australian community,” he says. “Every McDonald’s restaurant is committed to supporting the community within the area it operates through job creation, economic investment and ongoing training and development opportunities.
“The established partnership between our franchisees and suppliers via the Three-Legged Stool model encourages teamwork, collaboration, and shared learnings, allowing all areas of the business to work together to achieve the best possible outcome.”
The long-standing partnership with Australian farmers and suppliers is a mark of the brand’s success.
“We are firm believers in the quality and taste of Australian home grown produce, and have always been, and remain committed to our local suppliers and supporting more than 15,000 Aussie farmers annually,” he says.
Digital and delivery channels became a lifeline for hospitality businesses throughout 2020; McDonald’s innovated and franchisees stepped up to face the challenges of trading through lockdowns.
“Our franchisees have remained agile throughout the pandemic and leaned into the new opportunities generated by the increase in delivery and digital ordering over the past 18 months,” says Andrew.
“The need for convenience and a contactless experience has driven a significant shift in consumer behaviour and both delivery and the MyMacca’s App will continue to be a key part of our future growth strategy.”
The quick service restaurant (QSR) sector is a fast-moving industry, driven by technical developments and customer trends. As McDonald’s moves into the 2020s, there will be more challenges ahead but the core principles will remain, says Andrew.
“Macca’s has always been at the forefront of innovation within the Australian QSR industry, so the challenge remains to ensure we are meeting our customers’ needs and finding new opportunities to provide them with an individual personal experience.
“Ultimately, it comes down to the basics of still providing great tasting food quickly, conveniently and safely when, how and in the ways our customers want it.
“The guiding principle of McDonald’s is listening to our customers, supporting our franchisees, collaborating with our suppliers and providing great training and career development opportunities for our people. That’s the secret to 50 years of success, with more to follow.”
The business is investing significantly in new restaurants across the country. At the beginning of 2021 it opened a sustainable flagship, the 1000th store on Aussie soil. So what’s ahead?
“This year we plan to open 27 new restaurants across Australia, with every new restaurant creating 100 – 120 new jobs for the local community.
“Our property and investment strategy is determined by market demand and the potential for significant growth and opportunities in new local and regional centres,” Andrew says.
“We remain focused on developing more freestanding drive thru restaurants. These are our best way to serve our customers and provide the full benefits of our brand; drive thru, McCafe, inviting dining rooms and delivery.”
Hard-working, business-minded individuals who have a passion for the brand, for customers and for local communities are encouraged to find out more about joining the McDonald’s network.
“Franchisees play an extremely important role in driving our business forward. It’s a challenging but highly rewarding role,” Andrew Gregory says.