McDonald’s to make home deliveries

“This is presently a pilot program,” according to a declaration to Business Standard by Cristian Savu, McDonald’s Romania’s Communication Director, who declined to provide further details about this new business segment or where this will be available. According to information available to Business Standard, this service is offered in cities such as Galati and Bacau.
McDonald’s Romania, which came onto the market in 1995, was subject to years of losses. It finally registered significant profit in the first half of 2007, of some €11 mln, double year-on-year, with turnover up 24 percent, to €45 mln, and expected to exceed €90 mln by the end of the year. This is one third higher than the 2006 figure of €67 mln, according to information available.

The company opened its first store on the ground floor of Bucharest’s Unirea shopping center twelve years ago. Sales on the first day were and remain the highest ever in Europe for opening day. The company has so far invested some $60 mln (over €44 mln), opening over 50 stores, and has some 2,600 employees. According to company officials, the number of stores could double in the coming five years.

The local fast food type restaurant market includes large chains and smaller restaurants, whose estimated annual value is €1.5 billion. Its main competitors are the KFC, Pizza Hut, Gregory’s, Snack Attack and Spring Time chains.