From Tesco to McDonald's: A New Chapter

0:00It's April 19th, from London to Lisbon, Paris to Prague. This is Europe News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Stephen Cochran, a 51-year-old from Belfast, ditched his top gig as regional director for Tesco in Northern Ireland to own a McDonald's, restaurant and carry-duff. After 32 years climbing from trolley pusher at 16 to leading nearly 10,000 employees, he took the plunge last November with no regrets. He wrapped up at Tesco in late 2023, chasing his dream of running his own show. The McDonald's franchise model hooked him with his training, support and global brand backing, plus it felt like a natural shift from retail to fast. Food, both heavy on teams and customers. Living in same field with wife Janice and kids, Oliver 22, Luke 20, and Anna 16, Stevens got family ties to the biz. All three have work shifts there, building skills that landed Oliver a job at Citibank,

1:00and he pushes the same work ethic he started with young. Now running the St. Phil road spot with 110 staff under his S. Jola lit-a-dee franchise, he digs the fast pace and flexibility. A long time for Leo Fishfan who hit the drive-through for late-night family coffees, he's all in on the operation. Stevens' iron growth with more restaurants, local jobs for youth, apprenticeships, and community sponsorships like sports teams, it's a bold pivot, but he's thriving in this people first world he always craved.