THE NEW owners of the region’s McDonalds Restaurants really are a match made in heaven!
Andrew and Jaide Paranomos have been at the helm of all three McDonalds – Airlie Beach, Cannonvale and Bowen – for a year now, having taken over ownership on November 13, 2023.
McDonalds has a long history in the Whitsundays, with the Airlie Beach store established in 1998. Bowen started operating in 2009 and Cannonvale in 2010.
Between the two of them, Andrew and Jaide have more than 40 years’ experience working in the McDonalds franchise.
And to cap it all off, the pair, who now live in Cannonvale, were married in October following a four-year relationship!
They first met in 2011, when they were both attending a McDonalds training course, in Sydney.
“I sat next to Jaide on the bus,” Mr Paranomos said, grinning and flashing his new wedding ring.
“At the time, she was living in Queensland, but we stayed in contact on the phone, and we got together in 2020.
“We were married last month in Sydney, which is where I’m from originally.”
Mr Paranomos has a career spanning 27 years with the McDonalds family.
“I started in Liverpool, NSW, and by 2006, I was running five restaurants in Sydney with a staff of 850 people,” he said.
“I was very lucky that my boss was a mentor to me and he taught me everything about the business. People and the community were his focus.
“This put me in good stead for when I became an operator.
“He developed me into a general manager. He is now a close friend and even spoke at our wedding!
“He sat me down, in 2010, and said ‘what’s your long-term goal’?
“And I said, I want to be a licensee. That’s always been my dream, since then.”
Mr Paranomos said becoming a McDonalds licensee was a ‘process’.
“You have got to be approved by a review board – there’s a process to go through. They are really particular about who they let into the system. You have to work hard and be a good partner.
“Once approved, you will get a call when something becomes available. The opportunity can be anywhere in Australia and you have to be open to that.”
The pair agreed they got ‘really lucky’ when the Whitsundays came up.
“The Whitsundays came up and we got a call – it was an opportunity we couldn’t resist. We got really lucky! The three restaurants were a package.
“To take over the three stores at once was quite a challenge but, one year down the track, we are really loving it.
“Having the opportunity to partner with a global brand and operate the business under their name is fantastic and it’s a dream come true for us.”
Jaide has 15 years’ McDonalds experience under her belt, which, when added to her husband’s 27 years, makes a total of 42 years between them!
“We really want to be involved in the community – longevity in the business has always been around people and the relationships you build, with staff, suppliers and contacts.
“Watching your people grow from crew members, all the way through to management – whether that’s with McDonalds or another business – is very rewarding.
“And that’s what we want to instil in our business. We want to give back to the local community through sponsorships and supporting local community groups.”
Already the pair have sponsored a local school’s awards and the Whitsunday Writers Festival.
One of their immediate goals is to recruit more staff, with a total of 70 positions available across the three restaurants, which need 170 staff members between them.
“Staffing is an issue in the Whitsundays – we are always on the lookout for staff,” Mr Paranomos said.
“No matter what age, full-time and part-time. We could put on five full-time staff members in each of our three stores tomorrow, for the right candidates.
“We are not going anywhere – we have committed to a 20-year license – and there are opportunities for all the staff here.
“McDonalds prides itself on its training – it’s world renowned and we take it very seriously.
“It’s a great steppingstone for employees for any career, teaching life skills, discipline and responsibility, and working with other team members.
“It’s about having the right leadership and mentorship – I want my staff to succeed.
“Jaide and I wouldn’t be the people we are today without McDonald’s.”
This Saturday (November 16) is national McHappy Day, so pop into your local store to buy some promotional socks or a hat, with all the profits going to Ronald McDonald House.
