McDonald's, 150 openings in 3 years and 800 million investment

In Italy 51 new McDonald's were opened in 2024 and in the coming years the intention does not seem to be to take the foot off the accelerator:the target is to exceed 900 restaurants by the end of 2027 compared to 755 at the end of 2024.
"If this target is reached, we estimate that 800 million euro will have been invested in the area," Giorgia Favaro, McDonald's Italia managing director, tells Food24. "Most of it will be destined for the purchase of land and the construction of individual restaurants, all based on high energy efficiency and sustainability standards.

On the other hand, the franchisees (there are currently 163 and they manage 90% of the network) are generally responsible for the cost of furnishings and machinery. "The EUR 800 million is in addition to the EUR 235 million spent last year," adds the CEO, "and it should also be borne in mind that approximately 10% of the investments are intended to renew the existing network.

In addition to direct investments, there are also the gains on the territory: according to a study entrusted to Althesys and presented on 15 April at the Chamber of Deputies on the occasion of the event "Condividere Valore: ristorazione informale e Made In Italy", the 51 openings of 2024 will generate 165 million of shared value on the territory between salaries, suppliers, taxes and induced activities. "This is an overall figure equivalent to almost 1% of the expected growth of Italian GDP in 2025 and represents 8% of the turnover of the five leading companies in the catering sector. Thething we are most proud of are the employment spin-offs. More than 2,858 jobs will be created in 2024 alone, with a 50% share of both women and under-35s,' Favaro comments.

A sign of confidence at a time when out-of-home consumption is showing signs of weakness due to the continuing crisis. The chains seem to be suffering less, however, probably also because they are in a lower price bracket than the average. And 'il Mc' wants to continue to be a point of reference in a market that still has room for growth for fast food and casual dining, as shown by the many openings (with a differentiated offer) in recent years.

"If you consider that the last 150 openings took place over a period of four years and not three as we anticipate for the future, you can understand how there is an acceleration in the growth plans. Of course we conduct accurate analyses to understand where the potential new users are concentrated, and sometimes we are the ones who anticipate the opening of new shopping centres," continues Favaro. "Last year we increased our presence in the south and in the provinces, also and the largest number of openings was in Lombardy (9, ed.). We therefore believe that there is still a lot of potential for development in Italy, where quick-service chains do not cover more than 10% of establishments compared to 26% in Europe".