McDonald’s Pushes Global Restaurant Target to 2028 Amid Higher Costs
McDonald’s moved its goal of reaching 50,000 global restaurants to 2028 from the end of 2027, citing higher development costs and a pressured consumer environment. The company will moderate its opening pace to protect investment returns and emphasize development quality. It still expects about 2,600 gross openings in 2026, with second-quarter systemwide sales up 4% year over year, and targets roughly 600–650 net new coffeehouses.