New McDonald’s store to open at Lancaster St, Ingleburn

A new Maccas is set to open in south west Sydney, and the licensee is someone who started out at the company when he was 15 years old and worked his way to the top.

When a 15-year-old from Campbelltown went and applied for a job at the local Maccas, he never imagined he would meet his future wife or become the owner of 11 stores himself.

Peter Meadows started his career as a crew person at McDonald’s Campbelltown 45 years ago and it was there he met his partner, in life and business, Carolyn.

“I was studying at school and things were a little different back then but I got myself down there and applied for a job,” he said.

“I was fortunate to get a job as a crew person and here we are 45 years later opening our store at Ingleburn.

“I progressed through a number of career vocations with McDonald’s and after the stores worked for them corporately.”

When Mr Meadows was a supply chain manager about 20 years ago, he put his hand up to become a franchise owner and took over the restaurant at Rosemeadow.

The Meadows now own and operate 11 restaurants in south west Sydney, including Campbelltown, Campbelltown Mall, Casula, Glenquarie, Liverpool South, Macarthur Square, Mittagong, Moorebank, Narellan Town Centre, Rosemeadow and Ingleburn.

Peter Meadows and his wife Carolyn Meadows in 2016 outside the Rosemeadow McDonald’s on the corner of Fitzgibbon Lane and Copperfield Drive.

The latest addition, in Lancaster St, Ingleburn, will open on Tuesday.

“I grew up in Campbelltown so it’s great to be running the stores here,” Mr Meadows said.

“When the opportunity came up to buy some franchisees it just made sense, and we decided to step in and grab the opportunity before anyone else did.”

The Meadows currently employ over 1300 members of the community across their restaurants, with their new Ingleburn store creating 120 jobs.

Mr Meadows said they take great pride in helping to train up young people and equip them with skills they need in life and their careers, whether at McDonald’s or elsewhere.

“We want to pass along to them those core skills around having a positive work ethic, punctuality, and honesty,” he said.

McDonalds Campbelltown owner, Peter Meadows outside the restaurant in October 2017. Picture: AAP IMAGE/Simon Bullard

“We don’t like to lose them but it’s a natural progression. People start with us when they’re 15 and develop the skills they need for the rest of their life.”

Mr Meadows said he was so excited to be opening the store at Ingleburn and said he never could have imagined at 15 how his life would turn out.

“Who would have thought it,” he said.

The new restaurant will be fitted with modern decor and feature a McCafé, solar panels, dual lane drive thru, and a play space for families to enjoy.

McDonald’s is currently hiring a variety of crew, barista, management and maintenance roles in restaurants across Sydney. For more information or to apply for a role, please click here.