International fast food giant McDonald's has announced major changes to its restaurants which will impact customers who pay for their meals with cash. A new design will come in for 800 of the chain's branches in the UK, with the first three restaurants in London and Merseyside already getting a facelift.
Manchester Evening News reports that the changes are due to half of customers now choosing to purchase meals through touch screens in restaurants or through the McDonald's app. Instead of having counters for orders, McDonald's, which has 1,200 UK stores, will contain "specific areas for different sales channels" and a large collection window.
The shake-up will result in fewer people queuing around touch screens, and should mean diners get their food quicker, the fast food chain said. Customers who want to pay by cash will still be able to at so-called “customer experience pods” which will be fitted with a till. Touch machine orders can only be made with a card payment.
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No jobs will be lost as a result of the refurbishments, McDonald’s told The Mirror. Other changes coming to restaurants include a separate waiting area and entrance for delivery couriers picking up home delivery orders.
There will also be bigger kitchens and separate areas for delivery and dine-in orders to speed up service. The burger chain is also planning to improve the layout of its car parks to make pick up easier for drive-thru customers.
Gareth Pearson, McDonald's UK and Ireland chief operations officer, said: "The pace of change within the restaurant industry is relentless, and the pandemic accelerated this with digital adoption gathering greater pace. Our customers rightly expect to have choice in how and where they order and collect their food, and our job is to ensure that every experience is a great one. For this to be the case, we know we also have to provide our restaurant teams and delivery partners with the best possible environment to work in."
