ADVERTISEMENT
Money
McDonald’s Philippines to push for expansion this year despite pandemic
By TED CORDERO, GMA News Golden Arches Development Corp. (McDonald’s Philippines) is still pushing for its plans to expand its store network this year despite the economic growth setback arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Definitely, due to this crisis we have to adjust our plans. But this year, we continue to have, although, it’s a less number of stores to open,” McDonald’s Philippines president and CEO Kenneth Yang said in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.
“This year we’re still opening around 15 restaurants,” Yang said.
Prior to the health crisis, McDonald’s Philippines is adding around 40 to 50 stores every year.
“Currently, we have 668 restaurants and we will add 15,” Yang said.
However, he said that the company will continue to assess its expansion plans to “see how the economy will be able to sustain additional growth from the business."
“We are flexible and ready to accelerate our growth once the circumstances allow,” Yang said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The government previously prohibited dine-in services of food establishments as part of quarantine measures to contain COVID-19 spread.
The government recently allowed dine-in services to resume in areas under general community quarantine and modified general community early this month.
McDonald’s Philippines managing director Margot Torres said that 93% of the company’s stores have already opened.
To ensure health protocols and physical distancing measures are implemented inside McDonald’s stores, Torres said the company “invested a little more to make sure we have counter shields, safety shields, floor markers.”
“Self-ordered kiosks are cleaned after every use. Hand sanitizers are also is in place,” she said.
Customers need not to wait at the counter for their order since this will be served on their tables, according to Torres.—AOL, GMA News