Premier Capital plc, the Maltese-owned developmental licencee for McDonald’s in six European markets, registered a 14.5 per cent increase in turn­over to generate €263 million in  revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017. All markets saw increases in turnover as the group continues on its journey of consistent growth.

Thanks to its team of 7,500 people in Estonia, Greece, Lat­via, Lithuania, Malta and Romania, Premier Capital served 112 million customers last year, seven million more than in 2016, setting a new guest count record for the group. 

In 2017, the group registered an operating profit of €23.4 million. After accounting for investment income and finance costs, the group registered a pre-tax profit of €20 million, up from €16.5m the previous year. Net assets for 2017 amounted to €47.6 million.

All markets reported double-digit growth, with Greece registering the highest advancement on 2016 with 16 per cent, followed by Romania (15.7 per cent), Lithuania (14.8 per cent), Estonia (12.2 per cent), Latvia (10.4 per cent), and Malta (10.3 per cent). Premier Capital open­ed seven additional restaurants last year: four in Romania, two in Lithuania and one in Greece. A further five restaurants in Romania were remodelled.

The outlook for the group’s business across all markets remains positive. In the Baltic States, Malta and in Romania, McDonald’s market leadership in the informal eating out sector endures. The group continues to grow its market share and user base on the back of enhanced in-store experience.

In Greece, despite strong competition from local and international brands and a persistently challenging economic environment, results are improving and the market share growing.

More than 10 new restaurants are due to be inaugurated across the six markets in 2018, and the ambitious remodelling programme around the footprint continues.

“The positive momentum and excellent results of 2017 are evidence that our vision for the group and the strategy for each market are bearing fruit,” Premier Capital managing director Victor Tedesco said. “Guided by the direction on which McDonald’s has embarked globally and inspired by our people’s passion for the brand, Premier Capital continues to invest heavily in restaurant deve­lopment, innovation, and staff training and progression.

“Our objective in all markets is to retain, regain and convert customers by elevating the McDonald’s experience even further. The teams in each market are excited to share McDonald’s ‘Experience of the Future’ as we gradually introduce McDelivery, added on­line functionality including mo­bile ordering and payments, and greater in-store hospitality with table service across our footprint.

“We are confident this next round of investment will result in sustained guest count and market share growth as we focus on deli­vering on McDonald’s promise to make ‘delicious feel-good mo­ments easy for everyone’.”