COPENHAGEN, Denmark – McDonald’s Norden, which includes restaurants in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, announced a significant expansion and plans to build 100 new restaurants over the next five years and 200 restaurants in 10 years in the region.

Sweden, the largest of the four markets, figures prominently in the expansion plan.

“The guests’ expectations change, and we develop with our guests to offer a relevant and modern experience,” said Thomas Kelly, CEO of McDonald’s in Sweden. “We recently started dining table service, something that the guests really appreciated. The next step is to offer our guests the opportunity to provide home delivery, making McDonald’s in Sweden even more accessible and contemporary.”

Upgrades to existing restaurants are part of the plan, with future enhancements to include digital kiosks, new kitchens and improved service such as home delivery. McDonald’s Norden’s expansion in the Nordic region is expected to create 5,000 new jobs.

“We see great growth potential in all four markets, with good growth in all countries,” said Christer Åberg, CEO of McDonald’s Norden. “In the coming years, we will make significant investments to take advantage of market potential. We serve 150 million guests a year, and the vision is to reach 200 million a year in the Nordic region.”

Guy Hands, chairman and founder of British equity firm Terra Firma Capital Partners, became a McDonald’s developmental licensee in 2017. Under the transaction, McDonald’s transferred its ownership interest in restaurants in Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. The Nordic business includes approximately 435 restaurants, of which more than 95 percent are franchised. Sales in the Nordic region in 2017 totaled €1.2 billion.