McDonald’s UK trials new ‘grab-and-go’ store in London

July 31, 2019

• McDonald’s UK is trialling a new small format store with a focus on speed of service catering for people on the move

• Opens on London’s Fleet Street on 31st July, with the name ‘McDonald’s to Go’

• The move comes as McDonald’s marks 45 years in the UK, a period during which it has invested £4.3 billion in the country, creating over 2.1 million jobs.

Today McDonald’s UK will open the doors of a new trial ‘grab-and-go’ store on London’s Fleet Street. The store will focus on speed of service to cater for customers on the move and operate under a new name: ‘McDonald’s to Go’.

In order to focus on speed of service the Fleet Street location will offer a reduced menu of freshly prepared McDonald’s products which will be take away only. Alongside menu favourites like McNuggets, Big Flavour Wraps and the Big Mac, later this year the restaurant will also trial a selection of new prepared salads. Fleet Street will also feature new branding on takeaway bags as well as a new uniform for restaurant crew.

The McDonald’s to Go concept will allow the business to trial different and flexible formats depending on the local needs of customers in the surrounding areas. This Fleet Street example will be a smaller format with no seating area and smaller self-order screens, designed for customers on the go in the capital looking to grab something to eat on the move. Its opening hours will also reflect the needs of that customer base. The restaurant will still retain the core characteristics that customers know and love about McDonald’s: great value, quality food, served quickly and conveniently.

Henry Trickey, SVP Development & IT, McDonald’s UK & Ireland, said: “It’s an exciting, but challenging time to be in the restaurant sector. Changing tastes, new technology and more competition mean we need to continue to focus on investing in what matters most to our customers. We know that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ and that’s exactly why we are launching McDonald’s to Go – to allow  us to trial different formats in different locations, depending on customer needs. In Fleet Street, where city workers are looking for something quick to grab on the go, it makes sense to test a smaller format - no seating and takeaway only with a reduced menu will allow us to focus on speed of service. However, the next McDonald’s to Go could look very different.

“This is all about testing and learning – we’ll see what works and listen to the customer response. Of course, some things will still feel very familiar about Fleet Street; great tasting food, served quickly at a competitive price by our brilliant people. We absolutely remain committed to our existing formats on the high street and with drive thru, and the convenience offered through McDelivery and My McDonald’s App.   

McDonald’s to Go is the latest phase in the business’ ongoing investment to evolve its restaurant experience in the UK. Since 2015, McDonald’s and its franchisees have invested over half a billion pounds in revamped kitchens and new technology that allow customers to enjoy ‘ultimate convenience’ from self-order screens that allow families to enjoy table service in restaurant, to on-the-go ordering through the My McDonald’s App and McDelivery. The business and franchisees also invest over £40million per year on training and developing its people.  

The launch of McDonald’s to Go comes as the business celebrates 45 years in the UK – a period in which it has invested £4.3 billion in its restaurants and created over 2.1 million jobs either directly or indirectly as a result of investment in its supply chain. For more on McDonald’s at 45 see here.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Media enquiries:

McDonald’s press office – 020 3892 1000 / pressoffice@uk.mcd.com

Teneo – 020 7260 2700 / mcdonalds@teneo.com

About McDonald’s UK:

McDonald’s currently operates over 1,280 restaurants across the UK, serving just under 4 million customers every day.

About McDonald’s to Go:

McDonald’s to Go is a new proposition that will enable McDonald’s to trial flexible formats of service tailored to local needs. Initially this will focus on a smaller format concept store on London’s Fleet Street, trialling speedy, takeaway-only service with a reduce menu. The trial will evolve over time as McDonald’s responds to changing customer needs.