McDonald’s has unveiled its plans for the future of fast-food restaurants, with a focus on expanding drive-through lanes to accommodate more customers.
Kassel – McDonald’s, which has been operating in Germany for over 50 years, continues to evolve and respond to recent declines in sales. One of the upcoming innovations is the introduction of dual-lane drive-throughs.
McDonald’s to Expand Drive-Throughs with Multiple Lanes
Christoph Gehrig, Chief Financial Officer of McDonald’s Germany, discussed the upcoming changes and their purpose. “We believe in the German market and plan to grow significantly here,” he stated. By the end of the year, McDonald’s plans to open 25 new restaurants, each employing around 50 workers. By 2027, many more locations are expected to be built, creating nearly 10,000 new jobs.
In the coming years, McDonald’s aims to build 500 new fast-food restaurants. These locations will feature the new dual-lane drive-through model, allowing drivers to place their orders on two separate lanes. The company is also committed to promoting electric mobility, with 600 out of the 1,050 drive-through restaurants already equipped with electric vehicle charging stations. This year, McDonald’s was affected by a global technical disruption.
McDonald’s Faces Sales Decline – Innovations Aim to Reverse Trend
McDonald’s is introducing these innovations to combat a global decline in sales. The company reported that global sales in the second quarter of 2024 were down 1% compared to the same period last year. This marks the first drop in sales since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the company, one factor contributing to the decline is that lower-income customers are “leaving the market.”
To address this, McDonald’s is focusing on high-traffic locations such as highways and train stations. “We’re concentrating on expanding our drive-through locations, as Germany remains a car-driven country. I don’t see this changing in the near future,” said Gehrig. A video showcasing the new dual-lane drive-through model shows two ordering terminals, though payment and food collection will still take place at a single window.
