FAST COMPANY – The McDonald’s Corporation has announced it will take over ownership of the 225 restaurants that make up its Israeli franchise after signing an agreement with Israeli company Alonyal Limited, which oversaw McDonald’s’ operations in the country in the decades since the brand was first introduced there.
Jo Sempels, president of International Developmental Licensed Markets at McDonald’s Corporation, said in a statement:
“We thank Alonyal Limited for building the McDonald’s business and brand in Israel over the past 30 years.”
“McDonald’s remains committed to the Israeli market and to ensuring a positive employee and customer experience in the market going forward.”
The move comes after the franchise experienced drastically lower sales after months of pro-Palestine protests and boycotts, which followed McDonald’s Israel’s announcement that it would donate free meals to the Israeli military shortly after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
At the time, McDonald’s Israel shared on its social media accounts that the meals would go “to all those who are involved in the defense of the state, hospitals, and surrounding areas … ”
