Study Buddy (Explorer): McDonald's location in Hong Kong poised to become world's busiest
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Read the following text, and answer questions 1–9 below:
[1] McDonald's flagship store in Hong Kong is poised to become the fast-food chain's busiest among its more than 40,000 global outlets. It would be a crowning achievement for the chain after half a century of operating in the city.
[2] The 9,000 sq ft Admiralty Centre store – which reopened for business in May after a three-week renovation – serves more than 1,000 customers an hour during peak periods, said the company's international developmental lead, Hisham Sidky. This, Sidky said, puts the location on course to surpass the outlet in the concourse of London's Liverpool Street tube station as the busiest McDonald's on the planet.
[3] Hong Kong displayed its first golden arches logo along Paterson Street in Causeway Bay in January 1975. The city now claims four of McDonald's five busiest stores worldwide, said Randy Lai, CEO of McDonald's Hong Kong. She added that the chain will add five to six outlets this year to its 260 shops in the city. This will translate to about 3.5 outlets for every 100,000 residents, making the city one of McDonald's most important in Asia in terms of density, she said.
[4] The Admiralty Centre outlet is located outside one of the business district's busiest train stations. It has served more than 24 million customers over the past decade, handing out more than 7.5 million Chicken McNuggets, 4 million servings of French fries and 2.3 million cups of coffee, including those sold at the attached McCafé outlet.
[5] McDonald's success in Hong Kong is largely due to the design of its stores. Redesigned by Landini Associates, the Admiralty Centre space now accommodates 326 seats – 12 per cent more than the previous layout – giving it 30 per cent more dining space, Lai said.
[6] It also became the first in Hong Kong to offer 'Smart Food Lockers', which keep food at optimal temperatures, to third-party delivery platforms. The new store design also features a 22-metre-long curved interactive LED screen and has transformed its single party room into two party spaces, which can be adjusted to accommodate different group sizes.
[7] The Admiralty branch is the only place in Hong Kong that offers special menu items such as mini choco churros, McPops doughnuts and the salad burger, inspired by McDonald's restaurants in South Korea, France and New Zealand. It is one of several McDonald's restaurants across the world that provide table service in addition to self-service.
[8] Besides opening new stores, Lai said the group was also sprucing up other outlets to update their looks amid a retail downturn in Hong Kong. 'We really want to take our service to the next level,' she said. 'No matter how good or how bad the economy is, it is our commitment to provide a better experience to customers.'
Source: South China Morning Post, June 3
Questions
1. According to paragraph 1, the first McDonald's in Hong Kong opened … ago.
A. half a decade
B. more than 45 years
C. almost 90 years
D. a century
2. In paragraph 2, how long was the outlet at Admiralty Centre closed and why? (2 marks)
3. What does the 'golden arches logo' in paragraph 3 refer to?
4. Decide whether the following statements, according to paragraphs 3 and 4, are True, False or the information is Not Given. (4 marks)
(i) Four of the five busiest McDonald's globally are in Hong Kong.
(ii) After the new outlets open, Hong Kong will have 260 McDonald's stores.
(iii) The Admiralty Centre outlet has served more than 10 million tourists in the last 10 years.
(iv) For every 100,000 people living in Hong Kong, there will be about 3.5 McDonald's restaurants.
5. Based on paragraph 4, what is the bestselling item at the Admiralty Centre outlet?
6. In paragraph 5, what is a positive outcome of the outlet's redesign on its business?
7. What is the purpose of the 'Smart Food Lockers' mentioned in paragraph 6?
8. In paragraph 7, the mini choco churros, McPops doughnuts and the salad burger are … at the Admiralty Centre outlet.
A. unavailable
B. sometimes found
C. exclusively available
D. none of the above
9. What commitment has McDonald's Hong Kong made to customers, according to Randy Lai in paragraph 8?
From left: McDonald's Hong Kong CEO Randy Lai, international developmental lead Hisham Sidky and Landini Associates' founder and creative director Mark Landini. Photo: Handout
Answers
1. B
2. It was closed for three weeks for renovation.
3. McDonald's logo
4. (i) T; (ii) F; (iii) NG; (iv) T
5. Chicken McNuggets
6. The outlet's new design allows it to accommodate more diners. (accept all similar answers)
7. for third-party delivery platforms to use to ensure food is maintained at optimal temperatures
8. C
9. to provide a better experience to customers no matter how good or bad the economy is
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