Atul Pathak OBE, one of the UK’s most successful franchise entrepreneurs has sold the McDonald’s franchisee business after two decades.
British Indian businessman Atul Pathak OBE sold his business in March 2022, he announced on social media.
Pathak has been operating 43 McDonald’s restaurants and employing more than 3,500 staff through his company Appt Corporation for nearly 20 years. The first McDonald’s franchise was opened in 2003, and he ran restaurants across London and Berkshire.
Making the announcement on LinkedIn, Mr Pathak wrote: “After nearly 20 years with McDonald’s, I have decided to sell my business and move on. It has been a great journey to grow from one restaurant to 43, be the largest franchisee of McDonald’s in the UK and to be associated with one of the most iconic brands in the world. I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved in the last 20 years, but it’s time to move on. I am ready for the next challenge.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank my diverse team of over 3,500 employees who have been instrumental in our phenomenal growth at Appt Corporation. Without their hard work and dedication, we would not have been able to reach the heights the business has reached. I will be forever grateful for their loyalty and support.
“I would also like to thank the various communities where my restaurants were based, who allowed me to give something back to the communities and make a small but positive difference. I hope that they all continue to grow and flourish for many years to come. I am proud to have raised and donated over £1m for the worthy causes in the last 10 years alone.
He continued, “I would like to thank McDonald’s. I have had the pleasure of working with the most intelligent, visionary and hard working people in the industry. They have been wonderful to work with as people and although I would love to mention individual names, I shan’t at this time as the list would be endless.”
Mr Pathak also extended his thanks to his close friends and family for their “everlasting and unconditional support,” revealing that when he first started his franchise journey, many thought he was “taking a step backwards” as he “already had a successful business” and figured “starting with one business did not match to that.”
“However, they believed and supported my vision and in less than 20 years, I am proud to say that I have served as the largest McDonald’s franchisee till date in the UK. This would certainly not have been possible without the support from my friends & family.
Closing his statement, he wrote: “Whilst it is emotional to close one chapter, I have always been one to look ahead and am extremely excited for what the future holds. I thank everyone once again. Whether or not our paths cross again, I shall forever be grateful. Thank you.”
In 2015, Mr Pathak received his OBE for Service to Entrepreneurship on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. In 2017, he was named as one of the ‘Leaders of the Decade Creating a Better World for All by the Women Economic Forum’.
