The McDonald's chain will invest $5 million this year in launching three new restaurants, completing 70 points of sale in the country.
The company reported that one of the new restaurants is currently being built in Concepción de La Union, Cartago, but regarding the location of the other two establishments, preferred not to give details.
In Panama, the population’s increased purchasing power and the economic dynamism are driving new investments by major fast food chains.
The companies Franquicias Panameñas, S.A., KFC and Pizza Hut are to invest $7.5 million in the construction of new stores and the refurbishment of several existing ones.
"Meanwhile, the restaurant chain McDonald's has among its immediate goals the construction of two complete branches in Arraiján, in the western sector of the metropolitan region. The first of these is in its final stage of construction and is located in Arraiján, while the second will be located in the parking section of the Westland Mall shopping center, where the company already has a space in the food court", noted an article in Capital.com.pa.
Within its expansion plans in the region the multinational has announced the opening of 50 new stores over the next three years.
Without having yet determined the location of the branches, the company held an employment fair in Guatemala to recruit for the new restaurants.
"The director of Human Resources at McDonald's Mesoamerica, Patricia Cofino, explained that those interested in working in this area, even if they don’t have any experience, can start being trained with a degree in Hamburgerology. After two years of this course they can go to the University of Chicago to get a degree in Restaurant Management," reported Siglo21.com.gt
The fast food chain opened restaurant number 38 in Costa Rica.
Located at the new mall Momentum Pinares, it generated 70 new jobs.
"This location will be the first of two new ones in more than 10 years, and includes a freestanding design, Automac, Mc Café, Play Place and birthday party area," according to the article in El Financiero´s website.
By the end of the year, the multinational fast food chain plans to open four new restaurants.
Arcos Dorados, owner of the Costa Rican McDonald's franchise, expects to hire 300 people to work in the new restaurants.
Maureen Dávila, human resources manager for McDonald’s Costa Rica, commented to Elfinancierocr.com that, “the location of the new restaurants is still being studied and negotiated so we cannot disclose that information at the moment”.
The fast food chain opened its 74th restaurant in the country.
It can sit 168 people, and is located in Condado Naranjo, Mixco.
Prensalibre.com reports: "McDonald's is the world leader in fast-food restaurants, with over 31.000 locations and serving over 50 million daily consumers in 118 countries".
The fast food chain inaugurated its eleventh restaurant in the country, located in Antiguo Cuscatlán.
Since September 9th, McDonald's franchise in El Salvador is operated by Guatemalan group McDonald's Mesoamérica.
"This will be McDonald's 11th restaurant in the country, and will increase its workforce to 500 employees. 4 additional restaurants will be opened next year", reports newspaper La Prensa Gráfica.
The $2 million restaurant maximizes usage of natural light and does not need air conditioning.
Located in Lindora, Santa Ana, western San José, it has 400 square meters of construction. It employs 50 people, and is the chain's 34th store in the country.
According to Arcos Dorados, McDonald's operator in Costa Rica and Latin America, this is the first "ecological" restaurant in Central America.
Located in Eskala Shopping Mall, the fast food chain inaugurated its 70th store in Guatemala.
This new restaurant is the second opened by McDonald's in July, as the first was inaugurated earlier this month in the "Galerías Primas" shopping mall.
McDonald's also announced the third phase of their promotion called "Great Pleasures, Small Prices". This phase will be called "The pleasure of the Moment", reported newspaper Prensa Libre.
In the first six months of the year, four fast food franchises have opened six new restaurants.
With an investment of $3.5 million, the firm QSR (Quick Service Restaurant), owner of the franchises KFC, Quiznos, and Teriyaki, opened three locations in Santa Ana. Arcos Dorados, the owner of the McDonald’s franchise, opened three locations in San Ramon, Grecia, and Liberia.
Each of these new restaurants will involve an investment of between $800 thousand and $1 million.
Two of the stores are located in the Albrook Mall and one on the road to the National Stadium.
Loney Armijo, regional director for McDonald's told La Estrella de Panama that "the restaurant chain continues to innovate with stores working 24 hours a day and the opening ice cream kiosks in different parts of the country."
Wendy's, Taco Bell and McDonald's have launched new advertisement campaigns to attract consumers.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports: "Taco Bell launched its publicity campaign called 'Who said Crisis?' and is offering its tacos and burritos at prices between 6 and 12 quetzales, while McDonald's launched its new hamburger, McChicken Guacamol Jr, at 10 quetzales and will reduce the price of its hamburgers, for example, a Big Mac will go from Q19.25 to Q12 and a McMuffin from Q12.75 to Q9, at its 68 restaurants."