McDonald's to Hit French Motorways

McDonald's (Oak Brook, Ill.) has entered into an exclusive agreement with Autogrill, an Italian-based, multinational catering and retail company, to open McDonald's restaurants in French motorway service areas. The opening of the first Autogrill-operated McDonald's is set for fall.

The agreement between the two companies also includes opportunities for McDonald's to enter other areas where Autogrill operates, such as airports, railway stations and prestige sites. “We have a network of nearly 1200 restaurants, and we aim to consolidate our presence in regions with major flows of travelers, for whom our offering is particularly well suited,” says Vincent Quandalle, general manager of McDonald's France. “The experience gained by Autogrill over the years will enable us to upgrade our positioning on motorways.”

In February, the fast-food giant reported comparable sales for February 2009 were up 1.4 percent, compared to an 11.7 percent increase in February 2008. Systemwide sales for worldwide restaurants declined 4.6 percent, but increased 3.2 percent in constant currencies. Weaker foreign currencies, including a significant decline in the Eastern European currencies, are expected to negatively impact results.

“We remain confident in the fundamental strength of the McDonald's business,” says McDonald's ceo Jim Skinner. “We have the right strategies in place to grow the business for the long term and we have the operating experience to manage through the current environment.”