About two dozen McDonald's franchisees are preparing a complaint against the company for fraud, Catalunya Radio reported yesterday. The franchisees own about 50 restaurants and complain that the company makes a “high profit margin” and charges them “unjustified excessive fees.” Additionally, they reported that McDonald's ignores workers' working conditions.
Among the franchisees there are some establishments in Catalonia. Exactly next week, from Monday to Thursday, the semi-annual McDonald's World Congress will be held in the Gran Via district of Fira de Barcelona, leaving the United States for the first time in more than 80 years of history. The meeting will bring together more than 14,000 managers from 135 countries.
Confidentiality
The Gran Via Expo, central hotels, restaurants and services in Barcelona are already preparing to host this global event starting next Monday. In fact, many delegations are already in the city this weekend. The landing was preceded by a climate of great secrecy regarding the details, both on the part of regulators and the company itself. This newspaper was able to verify how quite a few hotels in the center held the plenary session based on groups from different countries who visited their facilities, and also booked exclusive dinners at trendy establishments.
Barcelona already has 24 McDonald's restaurants, largely due to the large number of international tourists. They are part of the 100 that unites Catalonia, and among the 600 across Spain, with another 100 expected before 2025, according to the company. Statewide, there are just over fifty company-owned, while the rest are managed by 120 franchisees, who have an average of 4.5 buildings.
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