8 Mar 2026 ● Chris Eccles
McDonald’s Creating 200 Full & Part Time Jobs In The North East
McDonald's has confirmed the opening of a new UK site, creating more than 200 full or part time jobs in the North East of England.
The fast food giant has launched a new state-of-the-art distribution centre in Darlington, with the 138,000 square foot facility set to support more than 200 McDonald’s restaurants across the region.
Rather than serving customers directly, the new site will act as a key logistics hub for the company’s supply chain. The distribution centre will store, organise and dispatch food and equipment to restaurants throughout the North East, helping ensure faster and more efficient deliveries.
According to McDonald’s, the opening will significantly improve logistics across the region. The new hub is expected to reduce average delivery drive times by around one hour, saving an estimated 2.5 million road miles every year. The company said this will also cut carbon emissions linked to its transport network.
More than 70 suppliers will deliver products to the site, bringing in over 400 different items that are used by McDonald’s restaurants. These products will then be stored, sorted and distributed to restaurants across the North East.
The facility will be operated in partnership with supply chain specialist Martin Brower, which manages distribution for McDonald’s in several markets worldwide.
McDonald’s said the project supports its wider ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2040, with improvements to its supply chain playing a key role in reducing greenhouse gas output.
The opening was marked with an event on Thursday (March 5th 2026) attended by representatives from McDonald’s, Martin Brower and members of Darlington Borough Council, including council leader Stephen Hark.
Announcing the recruitment drive, McDonald’s UK & Ireland’s Vice President of supply chain, Laura Henderson, said: “The new distribution centre is a major milestone for our business and demonstrates our commitment to the North East. Investing in Darlington means investing in people in local jobs and in a more sustainable future.”
“By cutting road miles, strengthening our network, and supporting local employment at scale, this centre shows how we can grow responsibly while supporting our customers and the communities we serve,” said Ms Henderson.
Martin Brower UK & Ireland’s managing director, Parv Sangera, also commented, saying: “We’re incredibly proud to open the doors to our Darlington facility, a project that reflects our long‑standing partnership with McDonald’s and our shared focus on resiliency, innovation and sustainability.”
“Built to BREEAM Excellent standards and incorporating a unique frozen‑chilled‑ambient cold chain, the centre represents a truly forward‑thinking approach. It shows what’s possible when we combine operational excellence with a strong commitment to the communities we serve,” added the MD.
The new distribution centre represents a significant investment in the region and is expected to play a major role in supporting McDonald’s restaurant operations across the region, while also creating hundreds of full or part time jobs in the North East of England.
