The Activities of Foodservice Companies in the Area of Corporate Social Responsibility – on the Example of International Fast Food Chain

Abstract

The aim of this paper is presentation of the activities of food service companies in the area of social responsibility. In today’s business world, there are many strategies being used to run business. Interest of the topic of corporate social responsibility has growing rapidly. Many companies have started to engage in CSR as strategy in order to gain benefits that can give them an added advantage over their competitors. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the company’s strategy, based on the assumption that business is responsible for the society within which it operates. There have been increasing numbers of companies engaged in CSR. CSR is becoming an important issue in the food service business. Nowadays CSR can drive companies to succeed in business by increasing sales volume and brand awareness and also added advantage over their competitors. For this thesis was decided to choose McDonald’s corporation as a case study. This is one of the famous restaurants all over the world. McDonald’s has a good reputation in terms of social responsibility. Hence, the significance of this paper is not only to increase related stakeholders’ understanding of CSR, resulting in the achievement of long term sustainability, but also fill in the academic gap of CSR, especially for catering business in Poland. The main objective of the article will be to find out, how McDonald's implements CSR towards employees, customers, supply partners and the community. Purpose: The aim of this paper is presentation of the activities of food service companies in the area of social responsibility on example of international fast food chain – McDonald’s. Methodology: For this thesis was decided to choose McDonald’s corporation as a case study, empirical, qualitative research method. Findings: Since last year’s McDonald's has been seen to adopt a more proactive strategy on CSR. McDonald’s has set good examples of social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility McDonald’s takes part in: animal welfare, corporate giving/Ronald McDonald House Charities, education scholarships, employment practices for, environmental practices, work with Corporate Social Responsibility Suppliers, Corporate Responsibility McDonald’s Reports. The evidence presents a case that the corporation is implementing CSR policies as a means to greater profitability. It is promoting itself as a notable corporate citizen and has turned CSR around from a cost of doing business into a profitable enterprise and been commended for it.  But, McDonalds CSR strategies mostly lay in the overlapping ethics/law area. Originality/value: Hence, the significance of this paper is not only to increase related stakeholders’ understanding of CSR, resulting in the achievement of long term sustainability, but also fill in the academic gap of CSR, especially for catering business in Poland. The demand for results is related to a poor adoption of CSR in small companies, especially in the gastronomy business. There is a possibility to improve performance with the example of McDonald’s as the role model.