The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
McDonald’s fans lovin’ it as drive-thrus reopen
● Northern franchisee hails customers for patience with system
Scores of hungry customers gathered at McDonald’s restaurants yesterday as they began serving for the first time in months.
People across the Highlands and Moray flocked to their nearest restaurant as branches in Elgin, Fort William, Inverness and Nairn opened up their drivethrus.
The main stores remain closed off to the public, with the number of staff on
“This will be widely welcomed in the community”
hand limited to ensure they could comply with social distancing rules.
Employees have been kitted out in full PPE, with their temperature being taken via a contactless thermometer prior to their shift starting.
They are also made to complete a declaration that they are fit to work.
A reduced menu with a maximum £25 spend per vehicle has been put in place to ensure there are no major hold-ups.
Franchisee Craig Duncan, who oversees operations at Elgin, Fort William, Inverness Inshes and Nairn drive-thrus said: “We have vastly reduced the numbers we have got in the kitchen and we have got screens between people to isolate them and ensure the social-distancing guidelines are absolutely adhered to.
“Our priority just now is keeping staff comfortable in their surroundings, feeling safe in what they are doing.
“It is running really well and we are really pleased with it.
“Customers have been incredibly patient.
“They have been very understanding and taken to the new system very well.”
In Inverness, around a dozen cars gathered at opening time with occupants waiting eagerly for their meals.
In Elgin, a low-key announcement of the drivethru return resulted in a steady flow of customers throughout the day.
Fears had been raised that increased traffic may cause issues, but queues were dealt with in a prompt manner.
Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans said: “This will be widely welcomed in the community as folk look forward to getting some degree of normality back.
“In general when anything like this opens, whether it is a recycling centre or a popular fast food outlet, the expectation is that there will be a flurry of activity in the first few days and that can lead to traffic problems.
“I am glad that has not overly been the case.
“As attractive as it may seem to get a group of friends together, we would ask people to refrain from doing that and be sensible about their approach.”