McDonald's outlets sold

COLIN SMITH

SELLING UP: McDonalds franchise owners Matt and Rachel Smith are to sell all three of their Nelson restaurants.

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The Nelson, Motueka and Tahunanui McDonald's restaurants are all being sold.

Franchisee Matt Smith told The Nelson Mail on Monday that he and wife Rachel were relocating back to the North Island.

Mrs Smith's father had not been well and this had been the catalyst for the move, which they wanted to do before their eldest child started school, he said.

"At this stage, we're selling to head office McDonald's and they'll be looking for a purchaser at a later date."

Mr Smith declined to reveal what the sale was worth.

McDonald's spokeswoman Kate Porter said the Motueka and Tahunanui sales became effective on November 1 and McDonald's was looking to conclude the Nelson restaurant sale on December 1.

The Smiths' purchase of a McDonald's restaurant in Masterton hadn't been confirmed, she said.

"It's one of the options being looked at."

She said it wasn't unusual for McDonald's to own its restaurants – it has anywhere between 20 and 35 per cent of its New Zealand market.

"We use them to see how places can perform and for operational trials."

An experienced operations manager had been brought into Nelson to look after staff and the businesses in the meantime, she said.

Ms Porter said the chain planned to "re-image" the Nelson restaurant in line with its newer outlets.

The outlets would be refranchised in time, she said.

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