‘We will use the increased revenue from the VAT reduction for employment and investments’

Globalna hrana, the franchise holder for McDonald’s, presented its business results for 2012, in which revenues amounted to 251 million kuna.

Last year, the largest fast food chain in Croatia had 14.5 million guests and invested 45 million kuna. This primarily relates to the opening of a new restaurant at the Vratima Jadrana in Rijeka, the opening of four new McCaffes, as well as renovations of existing restaurants. This year, they expect to open one restaurant, and this is the pace they should maintain in the coming years, with the possibility of opening two in a year if the opportunity arises.
Revenue growth was achieved despite difficult times, and Globalna hrana is satisfied with how they have adapted.

– In the past three years, we have invested 85 million kuna, and our revenues are constantly growing. The trend we started with breakfast has been well received, and this is an opportunity for additional growth. We also want to become the leading place for coffee and cakes through our McCaffe. It should be noted that we have also increased the number of employees, and we continue to offer only the best products from the best cooperators, said Hrvoje Valent, head of the development, legal affairs, and public relations department.
During 2012, McDonald’s restaurants were visited by one million more visitors than in 2011, specifically 14.5 million, during which 4,238,171 cheeseburgers were served, almost one for every Croat.

Pavel Pavliček, a member of the management board of Globalna hrana d.o.o., the franchise holder for McDonald’s in Croatia, is satisfied with the business results and the direction in which the company is heading.
– Overall, we are satisfied with the results achieved considering that 2012 was not an easy business year due to difficult economic conditions. We opened new McCaffes, renovated existing restaurants, opened a second restaurant in Rijeka, hired new people, all as part of our continuous development in Croatia and our plan to continue developing while taking into account the current economic environment, said Pavliček.

He added that he expects the entry of some other international chains in the near future, as KFC entered last year, but that currently, their biggest competition comes from local bakeries and pizza shops. They also boasted about their socially responsible behavior, and Pavliček stated that they have initiated the procedure for opening a Ronald McDonald charity house for accommodating parents who accompany their children for treatment. They highlighted that parents of little Nora Šitum stayed in such a house in America, and in Croatia, such a project could come to life in four to eight years, while it took ten years in the Czech Republic. For all customers, they announced promotions this year, and the increased revenue from the VAT reduction will be used for additional employment and investments.