McDonald's top numbers in Emilia-Romagna: shared value of €250 million
Bologna, November 6, 2025 – A study on the impact McDonald's has generated in Emilia-Romagna in 2024. "A commitment in a region that is historic for us, where we are well-established," explains Massimiliano Maffioli, chief restaurant officer for McDonald's Italy, describing the impact of the American fast food chain in the region.
How Much is the DOP Economy Worth in Emilia-Romagna?Value creation, jobs , and a focus on agri-food businesses and local raw materials : this is the company's commitment to the "Italian food valley." Alessio Mammi, Emilia-Romagna Regional Councilor for Agriculture and Agri-Food, also recognizes this. "We must continually improve the quality of our products and promote PGI products in McDonald's restaurants," Mammi explains. "This is not only an economic but also a cultural asset . The PDO economy is worth €3.5 billion in Emilia-Romagna. It's important for us to raise awareness of these quality products and promote them in Italy and abroad. In fact, we've invested a total of € 25 million in promoting these products."
McDonald's distinguishing feature is "to fully integrate into a territory where we open a restaurant. We do this thanks to our people, suppliers , and our expertise," Maffioli continues. The manager of McDonald's 791 Italian restaurants then details the fast food chain's numbers in the region. In Emilia-Romagna, McDonald's has 69 restaurants , 19 of which are operated by licensees, meaning third-party entrepreneurs who manage them. There are 60 of these restaurants with McCafé and 56 with McDrive .
Nearly 3,500 employees (3,450 in restaurants), 60% women and 40% men , "this is further evidence of our commitment to equal opportunities," Maffioli emphasizes. Eleven new openings are planned for 2024-25 and five in 2026. "We have invested heavily in Emilia-Romagna in the past and will continue to do so," Maffioli says. 22 million sandwiches are produced annually, with an average of 90,000 customers per day. A wealth that 'Mc' continues to create and "a great cultural heritage that we must innovate," Maffioli concludes.
The employment impact: 5,062 people are employed throughout the supply chain and its impact on related industries , equal to 4.5% of all regional restaurant workers. "Behind these numbers are important stories," says Emanuele Tumini, a Rimini native who has been a McDonald's Italy licensee for six restaurants and 300 employees for 30 years. "We are part of the regional economic fabric thanks to the relationships we have with people."
Indeed, the socio-economic report on McDonald's Italy's activities in the region is edited by Althesys. "The definition of shared value: it expresses a company's ability to create wealth, welfare, and employment beyond the confines of the company itself, thus a series of benefits for the entire supply chain or economic system," announces Alessandro Marangoni, CEO of Althesys. "A US company that has discovered its uniqueness and differentiation in Italy thanks to quality products ." In numerical terms, the shared value created by McDonald's in Emilia-Romagna in 2024 is €250 million (108.5 million suppliers, 35.6 million McDonald's Italy-owned restaurants, 105.9 million franchise restaurants), which represents 0.13% of the regional GDP in 2024, 2.4% of agri-food exports, and 4% of regional catering. Simply put: one euro of McDonald's revenue generates five in the region. Emilia-Romagna's tax contribution is €71 million, equal to 4.1% of regional tax revenue in 2024, and €102.1 million in gross wages and contributions paid along the supply chain, equivalent to the consumption of 1,576 families.
Then there are the suppliers , all seven pillars of the agri-food sector. From Fratelli Beretta bacon to Parmareggio PDO parmesan , including Inalca beef , Granarolo milk, Amadori chicken, Bimbo bread, and Macè fruit. Representatives of the PDO and PGI Protection Consortia, with which McDonald's Italy collaborates to promote regional agri-food excellence , also spoke. "A project born in Emilia-Romagna," explains Mauro Rosati, general manager of Qualivita. "This company's intuition was to include PDO and PGI products in its recipes, creating a different way of eating ." He then quips that Rosati attributes to Councilor Mammi's desire, "to bring Erbazzone Reggiano to McDonald's restaurants," he concludes.
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