FAST-FOOD WARS

McDonald’s stands by comments on how it is operating

Wendy’s roasts rivals’ safety plans

McDonald’s is standing by its safety processes after Wendy’s New Zealand chief executive Danielle

Lendich criticised other fast-food giants.

At the lowered alert level, Kiwis can get their fast-food fix, but only if it can be ordered and picked up without face-to-face contact.

There had been 1035 complaints about businesses breaching level rules, most about physical distancing, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at the daily update yesterday.

There were 185 breaches under level 3 — 46 had been prosecuted, an increase of 21 people in 24 hours.

And although McDonald’s was not specially named by Lendich, it was operating its drive-thrus for customers.

“I have to say when I saw the other big players operating just about as usual, I was quite shocked,” she said.

“I think everyone should just abide by the rules. The Government was quite clear — they did say drive-thrus could operate but it’s supposed to be contactless.”

When asked to respond to the comments, McDonald’s spokesman Simon Kenny told the Herald they had none to make.

However, Kenny said the restaurant was standing by previous comments on how it was operating during alert level 3.

McDonald’s sought advice through official government channels and had third party auditors review its level 3 plans before opening.

Staff had been trained on new processes about how to receive and return cash with minimal contact, how to hand over receipts and not to put straws in drinks.

Sales and point-of-sales areas would be washed hourly at a minimum and cash would not be handled at the same window food was given out.

“The number one priority for McDonald’s in planning to reopen under alert level 3 is the safety of our staff and customers,” Kenny said this week.

Lendich thought it was key for people and businesses to obey the guidelines set down by the Government to get down to alert level 2 as soon as possible.

Food outlets that did not follow the level 3 guidelines could be dealt with by the Government, the Prime Minister said yesterday.

Ardern said she expected the safety standards to be upheld by all those who were open.

“We are taking this really seriously,” she said.

“We will also enforce.” Meanwhile, Wendy’s had implemented a number of procedures to ensure the health and safety of its staff and customers.

The payment process was contactless, with an eftpos machine outside and paywave available.

Customers also had to keep their car window up and could not put it down until orders had been placed on a table and Wendy’s staff closed their window.

Staff were keeping 1-metre apart from each other and were regularly washing and sanitising their hands, even sitting at separate tables on their lunch breaks.

Wendy’s was even doing contact tracing for every order, except via their app or Uber Eats, asking customers for their name and phone number.

“We have not had, as far as I am aware, one issue with any customer refusing to give their details for contact tracing,” Lendich said.

“The customers have been fantastic in that way.”