McDonald's has unveiled a £1bn ($1.3bn) expansion plan to open more than 200 new restaurants in the UK and the Republic of Ireland up to 2028.

The strategic move will create 24,000 jobs, supplementing the workforce across the brand's existing 1,435 outlets that currently employ 171,415 people.  

The Financial Times reports that the expansion represents a significant increase from the £618m invested by McDonald’s in new openings and refurbishments in the six years leading up to the end of 2023. 

The latest plan aligns with the fast-food giant’s strategy to bolster its “high streets” presence as it prepares to navigate the evolving challenges of town and city centres.  

McDonald's first opened its doors in the UK on Woolwich High Street in London in 1974, and is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the country in 2024. 

The report detailing this milestone also highlights plans to test new restaurant formats, including smaller outlets, and to upgrade existing ones.  

In 2023 McDonald's launched 41 new restaurants, the highest number of openings in two decades. 

Despite facing a global sales decline for the first time since 2020, with a 1% drop in comparable sales in the quarter ending June 2024, McDonald's is pushing forward with its UK growth strategy.  

In response to the competitive market, McDonald's UK has introduced cost-effective options such as the "Mix ’N’ Match" menu, offering three items for £3, which has been well-received by customers seeking value.  

A new breakfast deal undercuts rival Greggs by 6p, as McDonald's seeks to reclaim its position in the UK's breakfast-to-go market. 

McDonald’s UK and Ireland chief executive Alistair Macrow said: “We have become an important part of communities across the UK, and I’m delighted that in this milestone year we are able to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to growth. 

“We’re proud of what we have delivered in the last 50 years and are committed to investing in new opportunities and supporting growth across the UK.”