Change on the menu as Mr McDonald's retires

A MIDLAND McDonald's franchise owner who started as a teenage cleaner is set to retire from the restaurant chain.

- TAMLYN JONES

Doug Wright has built up a portfolio of 26 of the iconic fast-food restaurants across the West Midlands.

After 44 years, he is now returning 16 to the company and selling the remaining 10 to other franchise operators.

The sales bring to an end a remarkable story which began in July 1981 when 16-year-old Mr Wright started his cleaner’s job at McDonald’s in Bedford on a wage of 93p per hour.

He steadily climbed the ranks until 2002, when he fulfilled a dream when he opened his first franchise.

Over the next two decades, his firm, Wright Restaurants, grew into one of the West Midlands’ biggest employers with nearly 3,000 staff.

Mr Wright has also won several awards including the Fred L Turner Golden Arch award, the highest accolade in the global McDonald's network.