Operations

McDonald's makes 2 commitments to increase diversity-centered business

Photo: iStock.

July 22, 2021

McDonald's said today that it will take two company-wide steps to build the company's commitment to doing business with diverse organizations and suppliers across its system, according to a news release. They include:

• Mutual Commitment to Diversity Equity and Inclusion (MCDEI): McDonald's and more than 20 of its largest suppliers will join this group that invites companies that do business with McDonald's to commit to being accountable to progress in accelerating cultures of inclusion and belonging, while dismantling barriers to economic opportunity in their own businesses. The pledge starts with McDonald's U.S.-based partners with the intention of implementation across McDonald's value chain by 2025.
• A 10% increase in McDonald's U.S. purchases with diverse-owned suppliers. The U.S. system already spent approximately $14 billion last year throughout its supply chain, 23% with diverse owned-suppliers. With this increase, approximately a quarter of U.S. spend — about $3.5 billion — would be with diverse-owned suppliers by 2025.

These initiatives build on the chain's current partnerships with diverse-owned businesses, more than 385 of whom currently supply goods and services.

"We're proud of our leadership position and storied history in supplier diversity, dating back to the 1980s," Marion Gross, senior vice president and chief North American supply chain officer, said in the release. "McDonald's partnership with our vast network of suppliers is not only fundamental to delivering on our purpose to feed and foster communities – it's also key to realizing our diversity, equity, and inclusion ambition.

"Collaboration is in our DNA as a brand – and through these industry-leading commitments with our supply chain, we're able to create more equitable opportunities across the many industries that serve our communities. We look forward to continuing to lead well into the future."

To support implementation of the MCDEI, McDonald's is working with Supply Hive, a Chicago-based technology firm and certified minority-owned business, to provide resources and shared learnings to suppliers. The firm will also help track suppliers' annual progress toward MCDEI objectives.

McDonald's, based in Chicago, has more than 39,000 locations in over 100 countries.