McDonald’s mass expansion plans revealed

McDonald’s has announced a crazy expansion plan, its biggest in decades, that looks set to cement its place at the top of the fast food industry.

Fast food giant McDonald’s has announced it is rolling out 100 new stores in Australia over the next three years in its biggest expansion plan in decades.

The expansion is being spearheaded by the highly ambitious, new Australian CEO Antoni Martinez.

The 37-year-old told The Australian there has been a fresh wave of popularity in its restaurants, online delivery platforms and rewards program.

While Mr Martinez acknowledged the economic climate is tough for the business, he foresees growth opportunities too.

“What we’re really excited to announce and talk to the broader customer base is a really exciting growth ambition for McDonald’s over the next three years,” he said.

“More so than we’ve ever seen since the early 1990s.”

McDonalds Australia boss Antoni Martinezs. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

The cost of the expansion is around $600m and Maccas also plans to upgrade over half its current store network that will cost another $450m.

This year alone 30 McDonald’s restaurants will open, with the chain aiming to lift its network from around 1020 currently to have more than 1100 sites around the country by 2025.

The business plans to take advantage of its mobile app and online delivery brought in during the Covid pandemic.

Online orders, home delivery and mobile app orders now account for 40 per cent of sales in Australia.

“We are seeing customers and sales growth, we’re seeing opportunities to innovate and excite customers, because we’re seeing drivers in growth such as the delivery platform and drive thru, in our McCafe,” Mr Martinez said.

“And it tells us that Aussies are really keen to see more McDonald’s in their local communities. We’re seeing growth around the country with transport hubs that really provide a great opportunity for McDonald’s to look at accelerating that growth as well.”

The cost of the expansion is around $600m and Maccas also plans to upgrade over half its current store network that will cost another $450m Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Mr Martinez said it was encouraging to see certain menu items remaining popular despite the cost-of-living crunch.

“We’re seeing great growth in areas like coffee and breakfast remains a really strong day path for customers to come in,” he said.

In June the fast food giant confirmed its restaurants are feeling the pinch as the cost of living crisis continues to affect businesses across the country.

McDonald's is now doing wedding catering. Picture: Supplied

Frustrated customers accused the fast-food giant of massively hiking prices, with rumours circulating on social media its most popular menu items had increased by as much as 58 per cent.

Speculation began swirling after price comparison site Frugal Feeds claimed that a number of Macca’s items have dramatical risen in cost in the last three years in September last year.

McDonald’s Australia told news.com.au the business has been affected by soaring production costs, including the price of buying ingredients and maintaining restaurants.

“Like all businesses we are operating in a higher-cost environment, which does impact the cost of running great restaurants in communities across Australia,” a spokesman said.

“We will always work hard to provide our customers with great value.

“We’re committed to our ‘Value means more at Macca’s’ promise, which not only includes great everyday pricing but also providing great customer service, 24/7 convenience and focusing on year-round offers like our family bundles.”

– with Rebekah Scanlan