Member card

McDonald's

”Social Responsibility is not a program that begins and ends.  Acting responsibly has always been a part of who we are and will continue to be the way McDonald’s does business.  It’s an ongoing commitment,“ said McDonald’s CEO Jim Cantalupo. “I am proud of what our company has accomplished, and we continue to do more.”

It is a very special treat to announce that McDonald’s Polska, part of the world’s No. 1 restaurant chain, has become a member of the Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility, and will be awarded the Foundation’s Gold Seal of Approval as a Socially Responsible Company at our First Annual Awards Dinner – Dance on November 3rd.

Back in 1954, as a 52-year-old salesman, Ray Kroc was an exclusive distributor for "Multimixer" milkshake machines when he came across the small hamburger stand of Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. He took one look at the rapidly moving line of customers buying bags of hamburgers and French fries and thought, "This will go anyplace. Anyplace!"

Fifty years later, McDonald’s has 31,000 restaurants in 119 countries on 6 continents, feeds 46 million customers a day, and employs 1.5 million people. 

Poland is the most important market in the region for McDonald’s.  With over 12 years in Poland, McDonald’s Polska has opened 205 restaurants and made investments worth zl.650 million on the local market.  In 1992, the first year of its activity in Poland, McDonald’s opened three restaurants. In the following years the company developed exponentially, opening 20 outlets a year on average. Presently, McDonald’s restaurants operate in a large number of Polish cities, with a record of 35 locations in Warsaw.  McDrive restaurants constitute a special category apart from the traditional dining room with a drive-through window for customers. Today there are 144 such restaurants of this type in Poland.

Today McDonald’s Polska employs 10,000 people and has no intention to reduce employment anytime soon.  In fact the company’s presence on the labor market is much bigger than company employees.  Each investment undertaken by McDonald’s means a major increase in Polish jobs in the construction industry, interior furnishings, and among suppliers of goods.  Meals at McDonald’s restaurants are almost exclusively prepared using Polish products.

At the end of September 2003, McDonald’s Polska started a new image campaign. Conducted on all markets under the common slogan "I’m lovin’ it," the campaign is part of the new global strategy of McDonald’s. The launch of the "I’m lovin’ it" campaign is a milestone for McDonald’s in its process of refreshing its brand. For the first time in the company’s history, one set of advertisements and one slogan is being used all around the world simultaneously.

A Socially Responsible Company

McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc built the company on the principle of giving back to the communities in which they do business. That same basic philosophy still holds true at McDonald’s today.   A McDonald’s franchisee and his/her team can be found supporting various local schools, youth athletic teams, senior citizens’ groups, safety awareness campaigns, literacy programs, environmental projects and other local fundraising initiatives in their communities.

McDonald’s national, registered charity, Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities (RMCC), was established in 1982. It has one simple objective: to help children in need. Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities supports Ronald McDonald Houses & other registered charities that help improve the physical and emotional quality of life for children with life-threatening illnesses or disabilities and their families.

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the first Ronald McDonald House®, which opened its doors on October 15, 1974, to provide temporary lodging for families with children receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals. What began with one House in Philadelphia, PA, has now expanded, due to the dedication of Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) and the need of families worldwide, to nearly 240 House programs in 24 countries around the world. Close to 20 new Houses are scheduled to open in 2005.  The Polish chapter of RMHC (Fundacja Ronalda McDonalda) was registered in April, 2002.

In one of my early discussions with McDonald’s Polska Director of Corporate Affairs Krzysztof Kłapa, he expressed his delight in the fact that the Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility will work with their entire company, and not just the front office staff.  He said, "I look forward to the first Corporate Social Responsibility Seminar with McDonald’s administrators and employees.  McDonald’s Polska carries out many valuable programs for local communities. The Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility could be an excellent platform for sharing such best practices and joining forces to help people in need” adds Kłapa.

We welcome McDonald’s Polska to our growing Foundation of Socially Responsible Companies.  McDonald’s says, “I’m lovin’ it,” … well, McDonald’s, “We’re lovin’ you.”