GOING ALL OUT: Cheers to cutlery! James Russ and Renee Shields being waited on by James Bartlett during the newest initiative being trialled by fast food chain, McDonald’s Family Restaurants. Photo: Robert Chappel 070213RCA01
IT might just catch on and it could be coming to a Maccas near you – table service, cutlery, plates, glasses, and of course, your favourite burger.
McDonald’s Tamworth restaurants franchisee John O’Sullivan, who operates three stores in the city, is watching with more than a keen eye a world- first trial at Warilla in the Illawarra region where the new “fine dining” experience is on trial.
Warilla store owners Glen and Katia Dwarte are conducting a fully- sanctioned, five-week trial after receiving positive feedback from customers who saw them serving their parents meals on plates with cutlery on their weekly visits.
The Dwartes were given approval for the trial from the Chicago head office, which also printed off flyers for the idea, after serving the Australian McDonald’s chief executiove officer, Catriona Noble, in the same fashion and pitching the idea to her.
Ms Noble liked what she saw and the trial was given the go-ahead.
“Although this is only a trial on our premium menu, we hope it will become a permanent service and we can open it up to the entire menu, and that other stores will follow,” Mrs Dwarte said.
This is not the first time the franchisees have gained global attention with a new initiative. They are also at the forefront of a mobile ordering app trial, where people can order and pay for their food on their phone before they arrive at the store.
Mr O’Sullivan said he thought the idea had legs and potentially could quickly spread to the other stores.
“It is definitely something we would consider if it works. The McCafe already uses cutlery and crockery and customers like that, so if it gets the nod, it is an exciting new idea that we could introduce down the track,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
The pre-order app is already in the pipeline for Tamworth with the system due to be introduced within the next two years, as well as an e-tag type system that is used for road tolls being introduced for drive- through restaurants and services.