McDonald’s has reopened its Ballincollig restaurant in Co Cork after a refurbishment worth more than €2 million, adding six double-sided self-service kiosks and a dedicated delivery collection area. The investment creates 10 new jobs, lifting the team above 80, as the chain responds to demand in one of Cork’s fastest-growing suburbs.

The upgrade also covers refurbished bathrooms and a new decor package that McDonald’s says is a first for the Irish market. Behind the counter the kitchen has been redesigned with a larger order-assembly area so the team can prepare more orders, and the crew room has been improved.

The restaurant is owned and operated by franchisee Chris Pim, a former Leinster rugby captain who opened his first restaurant in Kilkenny and has since added sites including Dungarvan and Cashel. His group also includes the Fermoy restaurant on the M8, alongside the Ballincollig outlet.

McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland Ltd, the operating company behind the Irish estate, reported pre-tax profits of €36.32 million on revenue of €85.65 million in 2023. Figures for the Ballincollig restaurant are not reported separately.

Elsewhere in Cork, the company secured planning permission over the summer for upgrades to its Kinsale Road restaurant. It has also confirmed 21 October as the opening date for a new Carrigaline restaurant with a dual-lane drive-thru that will operate around the clock, while the seated area will open from 7am to 11pm.

The structural driver is population-led reinvestment in a fast-growing commuter suburb, pairing extra capacity such as kiosks, delivery collection and a bigger assembly area with new jobs on the same site.

“Ballincollig is a rapidly developing area in Cork. The transformation of this restaurant highlights how we are growing to meet the increasing demand of the community,” said Chris Pim.

“We employ 80 crew and managers, who are the heart and soul of this restaurant. We took this time to close our doors and invested in ensuring we deliver a comfortable and convenient experience,” Pim added.

For the sector, the Ballincollig reopening shows quick service operators reworking existing restaurants around kiosks and delivery flows in growing commuter towns rather than relying only on new sites.

Source: Cork Beo / Irish Examiner / Echo / TheJournal.ie