Lyst, the operator of US fast food chain McDonald’s in Iceland, announced yesterday that McDonald´s will be closing up shop by the end of this month. This is because of the increase of import charges since the collapse of the Icelandic króna. The low exchange rate and high import tax has meant that the cost of meat, veg, cheese and other products have doubled for the company in recent months. According to McDonald´s regulations the burgers have to be imported…not trusting anyone else to make thier ´100% meat´ beauties.
There are 3 McDonald´s in Reykjavík and there are plans for them to be replaced with an Icelandic burger joint called ´Metro´. At Metro they will be using Icelandic meat and veg and creating jobs for people of Iceland which I think is great.
I have only ever been to McDonald´s once in Iceland; it was the most expensive burger I have ever eaten. The average cost for a MaccyD´s in England is roughly 4 pounds. Here I paid nearly 10 pounds!
I suppose if I was in Reykjavik and craving a saturated fat fix then I would be upset by them closing, but to be honest it doesn´t bother me in the slightest! However, it does seem to be the biggest story in Iceland at the moment so I thought I should at least comment on it.
Wave bye bye, Ronald.
OHH see i was lookin forward to a mc donalds when i came over! *crys*
[...] and Sam, two British ex-pats living in the country, chimed in with these anecdotal tidbits to round out the picture: I have only ever been to McDonald´s once in Iceland; it was the most [...]
I never did like Ronald. There is something about him…………….
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I wont miss it. It’s like the Americans call it, gutbombs. Being forced to import every ingredient is not good. In my opinion we have better meat here, and we have better cheese and so on.
Love,
Óðinn Burkni