McDonald’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Kempczinski, openly admitted to the business impact faced by the company due to ongoing Gaza boycotts.
Chris Kempczinski acknowledged the impact in a LinkedIn post he said several markets in
the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation that is affecting brands like McDonald’s.
This is disheartening and ill-founded. In every country where we operate, including in Muslim countries, McDonald’s is proudly represented by local owner operators who work tirelessly to serve and support their communities while employing thousands of their fellow citizens. That local community connection is the genius of the McDonald’s System.
Kempczinski expressed his disappointment: Importantly, we continued to stand in solidarity with communities around the world, living our purpose and values to the fullest through difficult times. Our hearts remain with the communities and families impacted by the war in the Middle East. We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone. And whether the earthquake in Japan, or the tragedies that struck Morocco and Hawaii last year, our System is always there to support.
Thank you to everyone at McDonald’s – from crew and corporate employees to our suppliers and franchisees – for continuing to execute with excellence, for their unwavering commitment to serving our customers and local communities, and for embracing a One McDonald’s Way of working. They’re the reason that McDonald’s is faster, more innovative, and more efficient than ever, and a beacon in communities around the world.
If 2023 was any indication of what we can do, I can’t wait to see all that we can accomplish together over the next year. When you serve 65 million customers every 24 hours, even a second holds the potential for further transformation and opportunity.