Sunderland McDonald's gets high tech refit

A Sunderland restaurant has gone hi-tech.
High Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit.  Picture by FRANK REIDHigh Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit.  Picture by FRANK REID
High Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit. Picture by FRANK REID

The McDonald’s restaurant in High Street West has reopened after undergoing a major digital makeover, as part of the company’s Experience of the Future scheme.

Customers can now use two self-order kiosks to browse the menu, check nutritional information and personalise their meals, with help from new dedicated dining room hosts.

High Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit.  Picture by FRANK REIDHigh Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit.  Picture by FRANK REID
High Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit. Picture by FRANK REID
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Many of the new features will becoming come to other restaurants in the area, with the transformation of the Sunderland Retail Park outlet happening later this year.

Jasper Maudsley owns and operates nine restaurants across Sunderland, County Durham and Hartlepool: “We’ve noticed a change in how our customers are treating our restaurant,” he said.

“People who used to pop in for a quick bite to eat are staying longer to make use of the tech we now have on offer.

“We’ve also noticed a difference in the way people are ordering - for example people are now more aware of our healthier options such as swapping fries for a side salad or adding a fruit bag to their children’s Happy Meal.

High Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit.  Picture by FRANK REIDHigh Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit.  Picture by FRANK REID
High Street, Sunderland McDonalds reopens after undergoing a refit. Picture by FRANK REID
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“These changes have been designed to make our customers’ experience as positive as possible and the new technology benefits everyone – whether that’s providing people with a chance to get to grips with using a tablet in a relaxed environment, or providing mums with a quick and easy way of ordering their food.”

McDonald’s is trying out a series of other technological innovations, including the option to customise burgers and play new interactive table-top games whilst they share a meal.

The roll out of Experience of the Future is the company’s biggest and most ambitious restaurant refit programme to date.

McDonald’s employs more than 115,000 people in the UK, with the 20 created by the High Street refit bringing the total in Sunderland to more than 650.