Roadchef in tie-up with McDonald's

Motorway services operator Roadchef yesterday unveiled a multi-million pound overhaul to create 400 jobs and bring more McDonald's sites to its estate.

The US fast food chain - which last night posted better-than-expected results for the three months to September - will open ten restaurants under its first UK national franchise agreement with a motorway services operator.

McDonald's pre-tax profits rose by 10 per cent to $1.39 billion (883 million), with like-for-like sales up 5.3 per cent in the United States, 4.1 per cent in Europe and 8.1 per cent in the rest of the world.

Roadchef, which is owned by Israeli group Delek, plans to regenerate its estate over five years, with 12m being spent in the next two years on refits.

The firm is one of the UK's largest motorway service area operators, turning over 200m a year and employing more than 2,000 staff at its 19 sites, including those at Bothwell, Hamilton and Lockerbie.