McDonald's Corp. is launching a major initiative to make its restaurants more efficient and to be the "first choice" for more customers.
As part of its "McDonald's > NEXT" strategy, the restaurant giant said it plans to invest $8.5 billion in support to franchisees over the next decade on restaurant modernization, technology deployment and operational improvements through a combination of rent relief and capital support. The investment includes approximately $5 billion through 2030.
The company plans to provide more details about its "Restaurant > NEXT" program, which is designed to catalyze growth and fuels productivity through elevated execution, simplifying operations and modernizing restaurant design. It also will feature the deployment of "ArchIQ," an AI-powered operating system for restaurants.
The strategy will be supported by "Make It Golden," a multi-year employee training commitment to elevate the customer experience by delivering great food and great customer service. The program launch on Oct. 5, the 124th birthday of Ray Kroc.
From 2027 through 2030, McDonald's expects about $3 billion in baseline annual capital expenditures, plus a cumulative $1.5 billion to $2 ...