Joining McDonald’s as a part-time crew member in Milton Keynes when he was 16 set Gerald Thompson on to a successful career path as one of Britain’s best Âfranchisees.
He now owns four McDonald’s branches and has been named Franchisee of The Year by the British Franchise Association, not just because of his business acumen but because he has thrown himself into helping his local community.
Gerald, 44, lives in Bolton with his wife and two teenage sons. He opened his first McDonald’s in Middleton, near Manchester, in 2000. He currently employs 230 people and over the past two years has invested £950,000 in the refurbishment of all four of his restaurants.