McDonald’s is a brand that requires no introduction.
Their golden arches are among the most recognised symbols in the world, synonymous with crispy fries, world-renowned burgers and restaurants serving millions of consumers every day. But like any global brand, behind the iconic menu and customer experience lies risk - risk to the brand, risk to the business and risk to the people they serve.
McDonald’s didn’t just stumble upon safe food. It takes entire teams of dedicated food safety professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to uphold the company’s commitments to integrity and to deliver food that is safe to consume. For more than 25 years, LRQA has been a trusted partner in this journey, supporting McDonald’s in identifying risks, strengthening systems and turning challenges into opportunities.
The risk
For a global brand like McDonald’s, reputation and trust are built over decades but can be lost in seconds. Ensuring food safety and quality across one of the most complex supply chains in the world means managing risks at every stage, from farm to counter. With evolving consumer expectations, regulatory pressures and supply chain complexity, McDonald’s needed to strengthen visibility and resilience while continuing to set industry benchmarks.
The opportunity
For over 25 years, McDonald’s has partnered with LRQA, beginning with supplier audits and evolving into a comprehensive, end-to-end food safety and quality collaboration. Today, LRQA works closely with McDonald’s to enhance systems, share cross-sector expertise and apply innovative thinking to supply chain risk management.
Professor Bizhan Pourkomailian, Director of Global Food Safety, Restaurant and Distribution at McDonald’s explains:
"It takes years to build our reputation and only seconds to lose it. At McDonald’s, safe food has always been our promise and that commitment cannot be compromised. That’s why I value the way LRQA helps us turn risk into opportunity. They bring not only deep expertise in food safety but also a unique way of connecting the dots - taking insights from other industries and showing how they apply to ours. The risks may look different on the surface, but the principles are the same, and LRQA helps us use that perspective to strengthen trust in our brand every day."
The partnership
The success of the McDonald’s–LRQA partnership is rooted in transparency, openness and a commitment to continuous improvement. By using LRQA’s insight and benchmarking capabilities, McDonald’s has been able to identify where its food safety management systems can be strengthened and where new tools and technologies can be applied for greater impact.
Kimberly Coffin, Supply Chain Assurance Technical Director at LRQA, highlights the depth of collaboration:
"Working with McDonald’s means embedding food safety into the culture of a business that serves millions of people every day. Our role is to bring external perspective and innovation that helps them anticipate risks and seize opportunities, reinforcing trust in their brand globally."
The result
The McDonald’s and LRQA partnership continues to evolve, moving beyond compliance to create resilience, drive innovation and strengthen food safety culture across the global supply chain. By transforming risks into opportunities, McDonald’s is not only protecting its reputation but also setting the standard for food safety leadership worldwide.
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