Franchising

McDonald's UK, Ireland to open 50 stores, hire 20,000

A McDonald's outlet in London. (Photo: iStock)

June 21, 2021

In the U.K. and Ireland, McDonald's has begun a major expansion that it said will see it open 50 stores, while also this year hiring 20,000 employees, according to the U.K.'s Sunday Telegraph.

The brand also said that over a five-year period it will open 100 outlets in addition to its current 1,400 stores in the U.K. and Ireland, where it already employs 130,000 workers. All this comes as the pandemic eases across the area.

In the U.K. McDonald's currently pays the equivalent $12.36 per hour for those over 21, which is more than that country's living wage. However, recruiting the right talent to the chain for its increased presence there was deemed of particular importance, according to McDonald's, which like other QSRs is facing a huge labor shortage issue in the U.S.

The brand also told The Telegraph it is adding menu options in the U.K. including a Grab & Go set breakfast option and testing "more flexible" store layouts.