In Latin America During 2008, Arcos Dorados Sold More Than US$3.5 Billion, a New Record for McDonald’s in the Region

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - In its first year in operation, Arcos Dorados grew to be one of the 5
biggest employers and one of the 100 largest private businesses in Latin
America by net revenue

Arcos Dorados, the largest restaurant company in Latin America, owner of
the license to operate McDonald’s restaurants in the region, announced today
the biggest annual net revenue obtained by the brand since it opened the
first Latin American restaurant in Puerto Rico 42 years ago.

(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090325/ARW001 )

In 2008, Arcos Dorados reached net revenue of more than US$3.5 billion,
with sales at more than 1,750 restaurants in 19 countries, representing an
increase of 26% compared to 2007.

In comparable sales, taking into account the same number of restaurants
as the previous year, the growth was 21%.

“The 2008 results exceeded our expectations,” said Woods Staton,
president and CEO of Arcos Dorados. “Thanks to our strategic focus on
offering an even more varied menu; on high quality products and ingredients;
in attractive promotions and campaigns, like the Olympic Games in China; in
the policy of always offering good value and in the expansion and re-imaging
of the restaurants, the average number of clients we serve in Latin America
reached 3.5 million per day.”

The record was set in Arcos Dorados’ first year of managing the
McDonald’s restaurants in the region, which places it among the 100 largest
private companies in Latin America. The new job positions open during 2008
allowed the company to close the year with more than 100,000 employees, and
be recognized as one of the region’s 5 major employers and one of the
companies that most offers first jobs to young people in the region.

“We are definitely a prime job option for young people. Besides our
contribution to the economic and social development of the communities where
we do business, the creation of jobs and the payment of taxes, it gives us
great pleasure to be recognized as one of the best employers in Latin
America,” added Staton.

The rhythm of expansion of the restaurants was intense: Throughout 2008
the company opened 75 restaurants, 45 McCafe units and 125 dessert centers.
The investments were also directed at offering a more friendly and
comfortable experience to the customers, with the full re-modeling of 140
restaurants. “We grew not only by opening new restaurants, but also by
maintaining and improving what we already had,” Staton explained.

Woods Staton stood by the company’s commitment to children’s health
through the support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities and revealed that
the results from the McHappy Day fundraising campaign were 23% higher
compared to 2007. “In 2008, for the first time, we implemented the campaign
under the same name and format in the entire region and we achieved a record
of US$9.8 million, which was donated to the magnificent work of the Ronald
McDonald House Charities in Latin America,” he said.

With respect to the environment, as well as continuing the policies of
recycling and reducing the use of natural resources and supplies, the company
was able to open the first environmentally friendly McDonald’s restaurant in
Latin America. It is located on the coastline of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and
incorporates the philosophy of environmentally responsible construction,
seeking the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
certification, a system that verifies the incorporation of sustainable
measures in the construction and efficient operation of buildings.

“Our sustainable growth strategy brought in record results in 2008. We
are committed to the economic, social and environmental development of the
communities and cultures we are a part of, from the north of Mexico down to
Patagonia,” said Staton.

About Arcos Dorados

Arcos Dorados is the largest restaurant operator in Latin America and the
largest franchisee of the McDonald’s brand in the world. Arcos Dorados is a
Latin American company and operates more than 1,750 McDonald’s restaurants,
1,200 dessert centers and 200 McCafe units in 19 countries (Argentina, Aruba,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, French
Guyana, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Thomas, Saint
Croix, Uruguay and Venezuela) and delivers field service to the other ten
markets in the region. It has more than 100 thousand employees who serve some
3.5 million clients per day. More than just one of the major employers in the
region, Arcos Dorados is recognized as one of the best companies to work for
and one of the prime employers of young people in their first jobs. Arcos
Dorados also owns Axis, the logistics company present in Argentina, Chile,
Venezuela and Mexico, with 500 employees and 150 clients.

Source: Arcos Dorados

Jacqueline Niche, Publicom, +55-11-8216-2240, jniche at publicom.com.br, for Arcos Dorados/ Photo: NewsCom: https://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090325/ARW001