The fast-food giant announced on Feb. 5 that it plans to open more than 2,100 restaurants all over the world in 2024.
The southern and southeastern regions of the United States may be some of the areas where McDonald's is looking to expand this year.
"Our footprint reflects what the population looked like probably 20 or 30 years ago," he said at the time. "So you end up finding there's a number of places around the U.S.
McDonald's also plans to open more than 1,600 restaurants in its International Developmental Licensed Markets (IDL), which include all remaining markets aside from the United States and its IOM business.
These major expansion plans are part of an ambitious growth effort McDonald's is undertaking over the next few years. In December 2023, the company announced that it's aiming to reach 50,000 restaurants worldwide by 2027.
Since there are currently more than 40,000 McDonald's locations throughout the world, this means that we could see a whopping 10,000 units open within just the next few years.
It will also likely further cement McDonald's spot as one of the world's preeminent fast food chains—and one that contributes a staggering amount to the U.S. economy.
"We have a clear trajectory for future growth as we continue to build on the brand strength, global footprint, and digital ecosystem that have resulted in unparalleled competitive advantages and cemented McDonald's as one of the world's leading consumer-facing brands,"