McDonald’s was born in 1940 in the United States and arrived in Ecuador 26 years ago, through Arcos Dorados—the operating franchise of the brand—when it opened its first location in 1997 in the Iñaquito shopping center, in the capital. It now has more than 100 locations including restaurants and other points of contact across the country, employs more than 1,900 people and could make a new investment of $36 million that would mean 1,200 more locations, as announced by president Guillermo Lasso.

This international fast food chain has opened several stores in recent months. At the end of 2022, a restaurant was opened in Durán; a month ago, another in Quito; and last September 20 in Guayaquil. This makes a total of 114 contact points: 33 restaurants, 18 Automacs, 45 dessert centers and 18 McCafés across the country.

McDonald’s plans to make what would be its biggest investment in Ecuador: $36 million and 1,200 jobs, CEO announces

The news that the brand is interested in investing $36 million in Ecuador, which could create more than 1,200 direct jobs, was given by the president after a meeting with the director of corporate affairs for Latin America at McDonald’s, Marlene Fernández, on September 25 as part of of his trip to the United States.

Lasso announced it as “good news for Ecuador” and that “it will be the biggest investment the company will make in the last 35 years.”

No statement was made on behalf of the company in Ecuador.

McDonald’s opens its 33rd location in the north of Guayaquil

In Ecuador, this chain employs more than 1,900 people. 90% of his associates are between 18 and 25 years old.

Arcos Dorados is the largest McDonald’s franchise in the world, in terms of system-wide sales and number of restaurants. The company is the largest chain of quick service restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has the exclusive right to own, operate and franchise McDonald’s restaurants in 20 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, Panama , Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The company directly or through franchises operates more than 2,062 McDonald’s brand restaurants worldwide, with more than 95,000 employees serving nearly 4.3 million customers daily.