CALGARY – McDonald’s Canada says as many as 1,900 new jobs will be created across Alberta as they move forward with plans to redesign over 1,000 of its 1,400 Canadian restaurants.
About 100 McDonald’s locations throughout Alberta have already been revamped and new jobs added at many of those locations.
Alberta will be the first province to complete the redesign, with the company announcing Thursday plans to invest $200,000 to 250,000 per restaurant.
“We’re proud of the more than 9,500 people we employ in Alberta who, along with our newest employees, are helping us keep up with the demand as we innovate and deliver an unmatched guest experience,” said Shelly Hansen, Regional Vice President, Western Canada at McDonald’s.
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The redesign will include new self-order kiosks, personalized burger options and improved table service.
McDonald’s started rolling out self-serve kiosks at Canadian locations last year. Now, with its Create Your Taste concept, customers can build their own premium burger, choosing from nearly 30 different ingredients, including 12 toppings, nine sauces, and a lettuce wrap in place of a bun.
Among the new positions announced Thursday are dedicated wait staff who will deliver orders from self-order kiosks directly to customers seated at tables.
The move comes as market competition grows, including the rise of gourmet burger chains like Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Smashburger.
The changes are expected to be in place by the end of 2017.