McDonald's, the world's biggest fast food chain, wants to invest up to €800m ($1.1bn) in its European business this year, in a sign that the US-based company is increasingly putting the focus on the continent.
"We will invest as much money there this year as we will invest in the US market, despite the fact that there are only half as many restaurants in Europe,"Ralph Alvarez, president and chief operating officer, said in an interview with FT Deutschland, the Financial Times' sister paper.
"Europe is the most exciting region for us at the moment,"Mr Alvarez said.