McDonald’s is set to embark on a large-scale expansion in Germany, with plans to create over 10,000 new jobs by 2027. The fast-food chain sees significant growth potential in the German market and aims to significantly increase its presence in the country.
“We believe in the strength of the German market and plan to continue our strong growth here,” said Christoph Gehrig, Chief Financial Officer of McDonald’s Germany, in an interview with the Funke Mediengruppe newspapers.
This year, McDonald’s plans to open 25 new restaurants across Germany, each employing around 50 workers, resulting in approximately 1,250 new jobs. Over the next three years, the company plans to accelerate the expansion, opening 75 new restaurants annually. By 2027, this pace of growth will contribute to more than 10,000 new job opportunities.
Expansion of Drive-Ins
McDonald’s intends to open 500 new fast-food outlets in Germany in the medium term, targeting high-traffic areas such as highways and train stations. “Our focus is on expanding our drive-in locations because Germany remains a car-centric country. I don’t see this changing anytime soon,” Gehrig stated.
Additionally, the company will invest in expanding its e-mobility infrastructure. Currently, 600 of McDonald’s 1,050 drive-in locations are equipped with electric charging stations. In the future, drive-ins will feature two lanes for cars, instead of the single lane used currently.
Bureaucratic Hurdles in Hiring Refugees
Gehrig highlighted that recruiting employees continues to be a challenge and advocated for reducing bureaucratic obstacles in the hiring process. “We employ people from over 160 countries. However, when it comes to hiring refugees, we see room for improvement in terms of reducing bureaucratic barriers,” he said.
McDonald’s currently operates over 1,400 restaurants in Germany, employing more than 65,000 people.
Digital Ordering and Customer Preferences
The use of digital ordering methods, such as self-service kiosks and the McDonald’s app, will play an even more prominent role in the future. Gehrig also reassured customers that traditional ordering at the counter and cash payments will continue to be available as long as guests prefer these options.
Currently, 80% of customers in McDonald’s Germany restaurants order through self-service kiosks, 6% use the mobile app, and only 14% still place their orders at the counter.
