McDonald’s direct spend with long-term Irish suppliers including Dawn Meats (beef), Dew Valley Foods (bacon) and Kerry Group (dairy) reached €53 million in 2017.
The fast food giant's recently published economic impact report, ‘McDonald’s in Ireland’, which highlights the significant economic contribution of the company in Ireland, also showed that McDonald’s is one of the largest purchasers of Irish beef by volume, working with over 1,200 farmers in Ireland who supply beef to all McDonald’s restaurants in Ireland.
The report found that it is one of the largest purchasers of Irish beef by volume and the group spent €163 million purchasing Irish produce for export to McDonald’s restaurants in the UK and Europe during the period.
“This Economic Impact Report highlights our strong partnerships with Irish suppliers and our commitment to Irish produce, which is vital to our business here in Ireland and across Europe," said Beth Hart, supply chain and sustainability Director, McDonald’s UK & Ireland.
“As the trading relationship between Ireland and the UK evolves over the coming years, we want to reinforce our commitment to Irish agri-business, to our Irish supply chain partners and to the wider Irish economy. We will continue to expand our business and our offering in Ireland over the coming years, delivering great value, quality and service to our customers.”
Irish Economy
The report revealed that McDonald’s contributed €196 million directly to the Irish economy in 2017, through restaurant activity, employee salaries and its contribution to the national exchequer.
“In 1977, the first set of golden arches appeared on Grafton Street in Dublin. Since then, we’ve continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of customers and society," said Paul Pomroy, Chief Executive, McDonald’s UK & Ireland.
"With our vast reach across Ireland, we, together with our franchisees, have a unique opportunity to make a real and lasting impact in the local areas that we serve, the businesses we work with and the people we employ."
The independent report looks at the impact McDonald’s has on the Irish economy through employment, supply chain expenditure, the purchase of Irish produce for domestic use and export, and the support for local communities across Ireland.
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
