Day 123 - 09 May 95 - Page 31
1 around the world that have been adopted and replicated that
2 have helped to reduce costs as well as improving basic
3 services, the quality of goods. I think we have been a
4 good corporate citizen. Wherever we have located our
5 restaurants, we have tended to become a part of the
6 community, to be much more than just a business in the
7 community. We have tried to be a good corporate neighbour
8 in reaching out and working with various organisations and
9 church groups within that community. We have provided
10 thousands and thousands of jobs across the world, across 79
11 countries in which we operate, jobs that did not exist. We
12 have provided opportunity -----
13
14 Q. The jobs did exist, did they not?
15 A. Pardon?
16
17 Q. There were jobs in catering before McDonald's came along?
18 A. Yes, but we create -----
19
20 Q. You replaced the kind of catering that was going on with a
21 different kind of style?
22 A. Well, actually, I think we have created an industry.
23 We have provided additional jobs over and above the jobs
24 that were part of the catering industry. We have really
25 helped to embellish a way of life, the way of life in
26 America, and some countries where we have located. In
27 addition to the jobs that we have provided, we have
28 provided a great deal of advancement opportunity for people
29 who are willing to work hard and exhibit good, you know,
30 good skills, good work habits.
31
32 Q. On the jobs that you say you provided above the level of
33 eating out establishments, presumably, that were there
34 before, you created new jobs on top?
35 A. Yes, we have.
36
37 Q. So do you feel that you have helped to expand the eating
38 out sector?
39 A. Without question. I think we have done that, in almost
40 every area of the business that I can think of we have,
41 I think, upgraded the standards, the level of service that
42 has been provided, whether it be in the area of marketing
43 or purchasing operations. Those are just some of the areas
44 where I think that we have had a profound impact on the way
45 the business has been conducted.
46
47 Q. And that other people have taken up some of the examples
48 which you have pioneered?
49 A. We hold ourselves to a pretty high standard. We have
50 pretty strong business philosophies, and I think that as
51 time has gone on the public, in general, has expected a
52 certain level of service, a certain amount of commitment,
53 from McDonald's. As we have grown across the globe,
54 I think more has been expected of us because of the kind of
55 reputation that we have established because of our brand.
56
57 When people think of McDonald's in general they, I would
58 say, tend to think of a company that is a little better
59 than average, a company that is going to provide many of
60 the things that I outlined earlier that we are going to
