For a look at our awesome afternoon out see McDonalds UK Free Events Sheffield
THE HISTORY BEHIND THE FOOD CHAIN
In short terms it’s a fast food restaurant that offers both hot and cold food items and drinks!
Originating from America McDonald’s Corporation was founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States.
McDonald’s is the world’s largest restaurant chain by revenue, serving over 69 million customers daily in over 100 countries across 37,855 outlets as of 2018. Wow!
From 2011 there became visible nutrition on menu boards as the company became more open and transparent as a business by printing nutritional information on packaging as well as menu boards.
McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in the UK in 1974. It’s still there today in Woolwich, London. There are now 1,270 restaurants across the UK!
Did you know?…
McDonald’s is the leading global food service retailer with over 36000 restaurants in more than 100 countries around the world.
WHAT FOOD IS ON OFFER?
For all the latest news and food click here as there are always new and fresh ideas!
Did you know?
Sheffield McDonalds are taking part in ‘Keep Up The Clean’ as a way to dedicate their time to the community.
Find out about what’s happening in your region, events on in your area and how you can get involved through volunteering, fundraising or joining our campaigns click here.
MY TOP 20 McPOSITIVE FINDS:
1. IT’S GOING GREEN
In the United Kingdom, McDonald’s has launched a program to recycle its employees’ uniforms. Some of the material will be re-spun into fiber to make new uniforms; the rest will be shredded and used to stuff mattresses.
2. EASY TO USE TOUCH SCREENS.
There have been a few changes I’ve noticed over the years such as people being able to order at one of the stations (which are vertical touchscreens) where they will get a digital location device and can take a seat!
Customers can still order food the old fashioned way at the counter talking to an actual human but the move to self-order systems and table service was a way to speed up the ordering process and avoid slower food delivery to customers.
3. FRIENDLY STAFF.
From experience in all of their branches everyone has been friendly.
4.MCDONALDS IS THE WORLDS LARGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF TOYS.
It gives away around 1.5 billion toys each year with Happy Meals.
5. HIGH EMPLOYEE COUNT.
McDonald’s celebrated 11 consecutive years of growth in the UK and employs over 115,000 people across 1,270 stores – according to McDonald’s Newsroom.
6. ORGANIC MILK
McDonald’s started using organic semi-skimmed milk from UK dairies in all of its teas, coffees, Happy Meal milk bottles and porridge.
7. RAINFOREST ALLIANCE
McDonald’s UK started serving Rainforest Alliance coffee.
8. THEY EDUCATE.
McDonald’s named as one of first three employers in the UK to gain awarding body status, meaning it will be able to train UK staff up to A Level equivalent to five GCSEs grade A*-C.
9. SUPPORTING FARMERS
In the UK it launched its Open Farms programme with an event held at the Olympic Park in East London, including farmers that currently form part of McDonald’s Supply Chain. In 2012 McDonald’s UK launched Farm Forward, its programme to support British and Irish farmers.
10. THEY SUPPORT A CLEAN COUNTRY
McDonald’s became a founding member of Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Love Where You Live Campaign’.
11. RAINFOREST ALLIANCE
McDonald’s started serving Rainforest Alliance tea.
12. BEST BIG COMPANY
McDonald’s achieved 6th position in “The Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to Work for.
13. RSPCA ASSURED.
McDonald’s became the first high street restaurant to switch to 100% RSPCA Assured pork across the entire menu.
14. THEY LOVE THEIR BOOKS!
McDonald’s launched the Happy Readers campaign to put millions of popular books into the hands of families.
15. ALWAYS WANTING TO IMPROVE
McDonald’s launched Quality Scouts, an ambitious campaign inviting members of the public to trace the supply chain journey of its most iconic products and report back on what they found.
16. THEY ONLY USE BRITISH AND IRISH BEEF
It’s also 100% chicken breast meat! I found this out in the ‘About our food’ on their website.
17. SALT REDUCTION
Reduced the salt in a typical Happy Meal® by 52%, down to just 0.84g compared with 1.75g in 2003. (Compared with 2003, the total amount of salt in a typical Happy Meal, Chicken McNuggets, Fries and Fruit Shoot has been reduced by 52%.)
18. REDUCED SATURATED FAT
By carefully formulating a blend of non-hydrogenated sunflower and rapeseed oils, they’ve reduced the saturated fat in our restaurant cooking oil by a whopping 83% – compared with the oil used in 1992, which was made up of 46% saturated fat! Wowzer.
19. FREE WIFI
Wi-Fi is free to use in restaurants.
20. FRIES VEGAN FRIENDLY
The fries are not coated in any fats or substances from an animal. Once at the restaurant, their fries are cooked in dedicated frying vats in a non-hydrogenated blend of rapeseed and sunflower oil which is 100 percent suitable for vegans.
McDonald’s UK French Fries are made by McCain’s using Russet Burbank, Pentland Dell and Shepody potatoes – chosen for quality, taste and long shape when cut. Information source here.
MY THOUGHTS
It’s fantastic the initiative for litter picking and quite sad that McDonalds get the negative impact of people littering with the Mcdonalds packaging emblazoned on the side, we as consumers need to buck up.
I asked about the recyclable straws and people being so negative about the plastic lids and was told a lot is recyclable but it’s little steps all the way and things take time. For McFlurry lids, they are moving away from non-recycled polystyrene plastic to a recyclable polyethylene lid which is made of 40% recycled content. Fab news!
Some facts I found here:
The latest steps in this ongoing journey are their 2025 goals to improve their packaging and reduce waste:
- By 2025, 100% of McDonald’s guest packaging will come from renewable,1 recycled2 or certified3 sources.
- By 2025, their goal is to recycle guest packaging in 100% of McDonald’s restaurants. They understand that recycling infrastructure, regulations and consumer behaviors vary from city to city and country to country, but they plan to be part of the solution and help influence powerful change.
Did you know?…
“Nearly three decades ago, McDonald’s and EDF teamed up to tackle solid waste and accelerate innovation in packaging. Along the way, we pioneered a new partnership model for companies and nonprofit organizations. Today, McDonald’s continues to raise the sustainability bar by setting ambitious goals and collaborating with partners across the value chain for maximum impact.”
Bryony - Perfectly Imperfect 
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