McDonald’s Canada is looking to open five new locations in Ottawa in the next year and hopes to bring an outlet back to the ByWard Market when the time is right, the company’s president and CEO said on Thursday.
Michèle Boudria spoke with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe during a breakfast networking event on Thursday morning about her journey from being a McDonald’s restaurant crew member in Aylmer, Que. to being the company’s president and CEO of its Canadian operations.
Boudria also spoke about her connection to Ottawa and McDonald’s plans in the city.
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“We are absolutely investing in Ottawa, we’re excited to be here. Of course, I have a personal attachment, so (Ottawa gets) a little bit extra attention,” Boudria said.
She highlighted the work that has been done to revitalize Ottawa’s downtown and the businesses that are making it possible and said McDonald’s would be foolish not to be part of it.
“I can tell you that, in the next year, you might see five additional locations in the Ottawa region,” she said.
While on the topic of downtown revitalization, Sutcliffe asked Boudria if a McDonald’s location in the ByWard Market was in the cards.
“We would love to be there. The timing will be right. One day, we will find the right location … It’s about our communities. Our people are there and if the people are going to be safe, why wouldn’t we? There’s business to be had,” Boudria said.
McDonald’s location in the ByWard Market at 99 Rideau St. closed in May 2023. The fast-food outlet had become notorious for drawing rowdy late-night crowds after last call at nearby bars and restaurants. In January of this year, it was announced that the 3,917-square-foot space had been leased to an eatery that will focus on Asian cuisine.
The potential new McDonald’s restaurants in Ottawa are part of a global plan to have 50,000 restaurants worldwide by the end of 2027. McDonald’s currently operates 40,000.
The company’s plans in Ottawa extend past opening new restaurants. Boudria said the company’s philanthropic foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, will double the size of its location on Smyth Road, adding 22 new family units, up from the 14 it currently has.
“(The expansion) is largely due because our franchisees are raising a lot of money to be able to do that,” she said.
The company’s “McHappy Day,” which raises funds for RMHC, raised $8.9 million this year, with a total of $100 million raised since the campaign began.
The new Ronald McDonald house will be carbon-neutral, in line with the company’s efforts to double down on sustainability efforts.
“We see the benefits of working on sustainability and the benefits it’ll have for the business, especially in the long term … We understand our size and scale. We understand our responsibility. We understand that we have to lead in our industry and that’s the work that we’re prepared to do,” she said.
Looking to the future, McDonald’s Canada is looking at ways to become net-zero by 2050, Boudria said, and the company is taking note of a project in Ottawa.
“We’re excited to see the Reuse (Ottawa) project that Ottawa is working on. To see the results from that and see how we can apply some of the learnings,” she said.
The Reuse Ottawa project is testing its rental-style reusable container program at select grocery stores and restaurants in the city, with hopes of expanding the project if it is successful.
Boudria gave a nod to the city’s entrepreneurial spirit.
“I hope that businesses … continue to invest in Ottawa, because it is a wonderful place to grow our businesses and build future entrepreneurs.”
