Golden Arch Accolades FOR LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNERS
Taree residents Craig and Amanda Evans are not your typical business owners. Together they run one of the most successful McDonald’s restaurants in Australia. They have trained their staff to deliver excellent customer service, and this has translated into some outstanding results.
ecently, McDonald’s Australia awarded Craig and Amanda with the Golden Spatula Award – the highest honour a McDonald’s Licensee in Australia can receive. They are one in only five McDonald’s Licensees in the state to receive the award, which recognises exemplary performance in business, outstanding customer service and strong involvement within local communities.
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Craig and Amanda were ecstatic with their selection as one of the top one percentile of McDonald’s Licensees nationwide.
we’re truly fortunate to work with such an outstanding team of individuals,” added Amanda. Both Craig and Amanda began their McDonald’s careers as crew members at McDonald’s Taree in 1990. Craig, a local resident, worked his way up through the ranks of trainee management until 2001, when he became the General Manager of the Ross Group, overseeing McDonald’s restaurants in Taree and Port Macquarie. Amanda, also a Taree local, worked her way up from being a crew member to Restaurant Manager at McDonald’s Taree, before she
It’s a great honour to receive the Golden Spatula Award. We are constantly trying to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers by providing the highest standard of customer service and consistently good food,” said Craig.
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This award is not just applicable to us, but to every manager and staff member that works within our organisation. We couldn’t do what we do without the dedication and enthusiasm of every staff member who works for us – and
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and Craig officially took over as owner and operator of the restaurant in 2006. Together, Craig and Amanda bring a wealth of experience, passion and knowledge of McDonald’s best-practice operations, which they use to educate and train young members of the community seeking to start a career with McDonald’s. They take pride in the fact that the Golden Spatula Award also recognises their commitment to not only provide a job, but a career path for all their employees, and take their role very seriously when it comes to education and career progression.
Being a McDonald’s Licensee is very rewarding, and we always encourage our staff to reach for the stars. Your business is only as successful as the staff you train, and we try to instil a culture that nurtures the managers or business owners of tomorrow,” said Craig.
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Craig and Amanda also believe it is important that the Taree community do not only see them as just restaurant owners, but rather active members of the community. As part of their commitment to supporting the local community, the pair has also been involved with various local community groups, sporting groups and local initiatives for many years, with Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) being especially close to their hearts. The Evans both hold positions on the RMHC Forster Family Retreat Board, and Craig has been an active participant of the Hadley’s Ride for Sick Kids for the past four years – raising vital funds to keep the projects of RMHC running. Craig has also held a position on the Manning Valley Tourism Board for the past eight years. They have also worked closely with McDonald’s committees over the past year, with Craig serving on a number of McDonald’s
boards, including the National Licensee Business group, National and State Media Committee, National Equipment Council and State Executive Council. In addition, Amanda currently holds a position on the McDonald’s Women’s Leadership Network Steering Committee and the Manning Valley Anglican College Board. We find it extremely rewarding to be given the chance to be actively involved in our local community through McDonald’s. As local business owners, we believe in the importance of supporting the community that supports you, and we aim to continue to forge new relationships with various community groups and organisations here in Taree to help the community reach their goals,” concluded Craig.
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Craig and Amanda Evans attended the annual McDonald’s Worldwide Convention in Florida, Orlando, where the Golden Spatula Award recipients were announced. The judgement criteria for The Golden Spatula Award requires the nominees to have developed and enhanced McDonald’s involvement at all levels in the community, as well as demonstrating outstanding in-restaurant operations and facilities.