Yorkon News Archives

10/01/2002 – Yorkon manufactures its 200th restaurant for McDonalds

Pioneer of modular construction and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, has completed its 200th restaurant for McDonald's. Since 1993, Yorkon has manufactured restaurants at its 60-acre production centre in York for sites as far afield as Fort William in Scotland and Devon in the South West. Achievements have included a restaurant in Peterborough completed in just 48 hours, McDonalds' largest restaurant in Western Europe equivalent in size to 8 drive-thrus, and the replacement of a restaurant exactly two weeks after the devastating floods that hit the town of Uckfield.

Yorkon's 200th construction project for McDonald's is a new 85-seater drive-thru restaurant opposite Leeds United Football Club at Elland Road, which has created around 60 local full and part-time jobs and represents an initial investment of £1m for McDonald's. Because of its location, the restaurant has a footballing design theme, displaying a variety of memorabilia from the early days of Leeds United through to the present.

Yorkon manufactures a restaurant for McDonald's every 10 days. Constructed off-site, the buildings are craned onto pre-prepared foundations in just a few hours, complete with catering equipment, signage, glazing, heating, plumbing, ventilation, ceramic finishes, joinery and internal walls. This highly innovative method of building ensures the restaurants are open for business up to 50 per cent faster, with guaranteed quality and less disruption during construction.

John Atherton, McDonald's Regional Vice President, said: "McDonald's began a partnership with Yorkon over eight years ago and have worked together over the years to ensure that McDonald's restaurants are manufactured at an economic cost. Yorkon have improved quality, reduced build times and always meet our standards."

"We are delighted to have completed our 200th restaurant for McDonald's", said Keith Blanshard, Director and General Manager of Yorkon. "This partnership is the result of long-term commitment and a process of continuous improvement on the part of both organisations, ensuring McDonald's and its customers receive the highest standards of quality, service and value."

Over the past 8 years, McDonald's restaurants have developed to include children's play areas, larger seating areas, new interior design schemes, and Aroma coffee bars.