BUSINESS
branches. Three of them are in Ostrava,
and one is in Havířov. I already know that
I would like to open more establishments
with golden arches in Moravian-Silesian
Region. I see many opportunities for
further development here.
What is it like to work under a global
brand? How much is the American
corporate culture reflected in your
branches?
The history of McDonald’s, the size
of the brand and the global reach is
a huge advantage for me as the owner.
The organization of processes and
experience from other markets create
conditions that significantly reduce
the time to find the right solutions and
thus the desired results are achieved faster.
However, at the same time it is also a big
commitment, as I am not only representing
myself, but also one of the most valuable
brands in the world. In the time that I have
been working at McDonald’s, I haven’t
found any significant differences in culture
or any apparent elements of American
culture. Except maybe the fact that we
are all on first-name terms with each other
in our restaurants. On the other hand,
the different experiences from different
markets around the world, and therefore
also the American market, are implemented
within our internal regulations.
Can you tell us how financially
challenging it is to open a McDonald’s
branch in the Czech Republic? After how
long does it become profitable?
Every single restaurant opening is
different. It depends on the choice of
location, whether it is a greenfield site or
a restaurant in an existing building, the size
of the plot, the number of parking spaces,
etc. Generally, the total investment is in
the order of tens of millions of crowns.
Part of this amount is paid by McDonald’s
and part by the franchisee. Again,
the performance of a given restaurant
depends on many factors, especially in
the recent turbulent years. Given the size
of the investment the opening of a new
establishment is usually financed by a loan
from the bank. In the best case scenario,
the restaurant starts making a profit from
the moment it opens. The return on such
an investment for the owner is calculated
to be around seven years.
Mr Ostrý, thank you for the interview.
Text a foto: redakce
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