Business areas
Arcos Dorados' territory includes Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. The company dedicated itself as the organizer of the 2014 FIFA World Cup to provide customer service training to more than 15,000 World Cup volunteers.
Operations
With nearly $3.8 billion in sales in 2012, Arcos Dorados represents 5.6 percent of McDonald's global sales. In Latin America and the Caribbean, it is the largest fast-food chain and is more than three times the size of its closest competitor. Compared to the US, Latin America has fewer McDonald's per person. There's one McDonald's for every 22,200 citizens in the United States. In Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama there's one restaurant for every 254,000 citizens; in Brazil, there's one for every 310,700 citizens; and in the rest of South America, there's one for every 317,400 citizens.
Company-operated and franchised restaurants
Arcos Dorados operates its McDonald's-branded restaurants under two structures: company-operated restaurants and franchised restaurants. Arcos Dorados owns, manages and operates approximately 75 percent of its restaurants. Restaurants operated and managed by franchisees account roughly for the remaining 25% of affiliated locations. They receive technical and operational support from Arcos Dorados, including training programs, operations manuals, access to its supply and distribution network, and marketing assistance.
McCafé locations and Dessert Centers
Launched in 1999, the McCafé concept is meant to attract new customers, particularly during breakfast and after lunch, in separate areas within restaurants where customers can buy lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, hot and iced premium coffees and hot chocolate. As of 2021, there were 298 McCafé locations in Latin America. "Dessert Centers", operate separately from existing restaurants, offering traditional McDonald's desserts like the McFlurry and soft-serve ice cream. As of 2021, there were 3,265 Dessert Centers in Latin America. The first Dessert Center opened in Costa Rica in 1986.
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Reimaging
Arcos Dorados has been updating its McDonald's restaurants throughout the region. Between 2010 and 2012, more than 260 restaurants were fully renovated with larger gathering areas, warmer colors, contemporary furniture, artwork, large windows and often have outdoor space with tables and umbrellas for outdoor dining.
Menu
Arcos Dorados' menus feature the same core items as McDonald's throughout the world, including hamburgers, fries, salads, and chicken sandwiches, but also include foods unique to the region. A few examples include a flan-like dessert in Peru, dulce de leche desserts in Argentina and Uruguay, and the McMolletes (English muffin with refried beans, cheese, and salsa) in Mexico. A typical menu includes three tiers of options: affordable entry-level options, such as the Big Pleasures, Small Prices, or "Combo del Día" ("Daily Extra Value Meal") offerings; core menu options, such as the Big Mac, Happy Meal and Quarter Pounder; and premium options, such as Big Tasty or Angus premium hamburgers and chicken sandwiches.
Nutrition and well-being
In 2011, Arcos Dorados launched a new Happy Meal, with reduced sodium, calorie and fat totals. All Happy Meal combinations in Latin America contain less than 600 calories – less than one-third of the daily calorie intake recommended for children by the World Health Organization. Also in 2011, sodium in buns, McNuggets, cheese and ketchup were reduced by an average of 10 percent. Arcos Dorados was the first restaurant chain in Latin America to publish all its calorie content in its restaurant boards in 2013. In-store, Arcos Dorados locations advertises its nutritional information in all restaurants on posters near the counter, and on paper mats that line the meal trays. Full nutritional information on every food item is available on its website.
