Article

McDonald's previews technology features at Olympic restaurants

In anticipation of large crowds, the flagship McDonald's includes seating for 1,500, including 70 seats on a second floor balcony with a view of the Olympic Athletic Stadium.

June 26, 2012

McDonald's has shared an advanced preview of its flagship Olympic Park restaurant for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The restaurant, which is the largest McDonald's in the world, features innovations from units across the company's European system. It will also include the most expansive McDonald's menu of any Olympic Games.

"Our flagship restaurant features many of the innovations that have fueled our transformation over the last five years to improve the customer experience and increase the efficiency of our business operations," said Jill McDonald, CEO, McDonald's UK.

These technology innovations include the choice of express lanes as well as traditional ordering at the counter and contactless payment, which is available throughout the UK system.

"During the past five years, we've been developing technology to implement in restaurants for an even greater customer service experience," said Richard Forte, COO, McDonald's UK. "We're bringing many of those here to Olympic Park. Customers will be able to order at front counter, and we've also developed express lanes where employees will be equipped with latest handheld mobile order taking devices."

Additionally, the four McDonald's Olympic restaurants will feature numerous eco-friendly features, as the company pledged its support of the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games' objective to deliver the most sustainable Games possible.

These features include energy-efficient kitchen and water-saving equipment, recycled employee uniforms and more. McDonald's will also collect all used cooking oil from the restaurant and recycle it into the special blend of biodiesel that fuels more than half of its UK delivery trucks.

Upon conclusion of the Games, 75 percent of the restaurants will be reused, and nearly every item will be recycled, with all of the furniture and equipment to be distributed to future and existing restaurants in the UK. Thousands of items installed in the restaurant are logged to be transferred at the end of the event.

The restaurants were created by interior designer Philippe Avanzi, and are inspired by the company's latest European design elements being implemented around the world.

The flagship restaurant is prepared to handle large crowds anticipated during the Games, with seating for 1,500 at the site, including 70 seats on a second floor balcony with a view of the Olympic Athletic Stadium.

McDonald's will staff its flagship restaurant with 500 employees known as McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew -- top-performing employees from McDonald's and its franchisees who have been selected from countries around the world. The four units will include 2,000 managers and crew from 42 countries who will receive customized online and on-site training in preparation for the event.

Most extensive menu

Also, McDonald's will offer more options on the menu than at any previous Games, including the debut of the iconic Happy Meal. The majority of menu options are made from ingredients sourced from McDonald's British supply chain and include:

• Core items such as the Big Mac, Chicken McNuggets and french fries;
• Porridge and bagels during breakfast daypart;
• Wraps and salads;
• Happy Meals with fruit and vegetable options available for the first time at any Games;
• A new fruit juice drink – Fruitizz;
• Sustainably-sourced tea and coffee served with British organic milk.

Check out a preview of McDonald's Olympic restaurants here.

Read more about restaurant design and layout.