# Who does McDonald's pay? Who are its key suppliers?
Canonical: https://valuechain.wiki/mcdonalds · Facet: suppliers · Updated: 2026-09-24T04:43:25.101071+00:00 · Source: ValueChain.wiki (cited money-flow graph)

**Citable summary**: McDonald's's confirmed suppliers/cost counterparties include Coca-Cola (exclusive fountain beverage supply), Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, Alphabet (Google) plus 2 undisclosed/aggregate relationships. Per the valuechain.wiki graph: 5 cost edges, backed by 7 dated sources, 2 of them primary filings (as of 2026-09-24).

### 해외 제휴사 지분·자본배치 (中·日 어피셰이트 + 자사주·배당) (high)
- metric: Amount $7.1B · 2025 · 2025 total capital returned
- note: McDonald's capital allocation has two legs — (i) equity-method investments in affiliate markets (e.g., China, Japan) where it records its share of net results, and (ii) real-estate ownership (franchise land/buildings) anchoring a return of free cash flow via dividends and buybacks. In 2025 it returned $7.1B to shareholders ($2.0B buybacks), under a philosophy of 'invest for growth → prioritize dividend → repurchase with remaining FCF.' Real-estate ownership is the structural moat behind royalty and rent income.
- [confirms] McDonald's (SEC EDGAR) (EN, filing, published 2026-02-24) https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63908/000006390826000035/mcd-20251231.htm: "Affiliate arrangements (primarily China and Japan) where the Company also has an equity investment and records its share of net results in equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates; the Company returned $7.1B to shareholders in 2025 (repurchased 6.7M shares for $2.0B)."

### 코카콜라 (독점 음료 공급) (high)  → /coca-cola.md
- note: A 70-year partnership sourcing Coca-Cola as its effectively exclusive soft drink since 1955 — McDonald's is the only customer with a dedicated 'McDonald's Division' at Coca-Cola HQ, and about 5% of its revenue comes from soft drinks. Recent menu diversification (e.g., adding Red Bull) is a variable, but Coca-Cola remains the primary beverage partner.
- [confirms] Yahoo Finance (EN, news, published 2026-05-01) https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/mcdonalds-70-coke-alliance-enters-184907204.html: "McDonald's made Coca-Cola its sole soft-drink supplier since 1955; Coca-Cola has a dedicated McDonald's Division; ~5% of McDonald's revenue comes from soft drinks."

### 식자재·인건비·임차 (직영 매장 운영) (high)
- note: The main costs of company-operated restaurants are food and paper, payroll and occupancy including depreciation. Under the franchise model, cost of goods sits mainly with company-operated stores.
- [mentions] McDonald's (SEC EDGAR) (EN, filing, published 2026-02-24) https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63908/000006390826000035/mcd-20251231.htm: "The 10-K breaks company-operated operating costs into food and paper, payroll and occupancy and other operating expenses."

### 코그니전트 (high)  → /cognizant.md
- note: McDonald's receives support from Cognizant for its global finance systems and human capital management applications and extended the relationship that began in 2017 through a multi-year agreement in 2025, but the contract value was not disclosed.
- [confirms] SEC EDGAR (EN, filing, published 2025-02-05) https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1058290/000105829025000007/exhibit99112312024.htm: "Renewed strategic partnership with McDonald's Corporation... As part of the multi-year agreement, Cognizant will focus on leveraging cutting-edge technology."
- [confirms] Cognizant Investor Relations (EN, ir, published 2025-01-21) https://investors.cognizant.com/news-and-events/news/news-details/2025/Cognizant-and-McDonalds-Renew-Strategic-Partnership-to-Transform-Global-Enterprise-Systems-Focus-on-AI--Cloud-Solutions/default.aspx: "announced a multi-year extension of their strategic partnership, which originated in 2017."

### Alphabet (Google) (mid)  → /alphabet.md
- note: Under a December 2023 strategic partnership with Google Cloud, McDonald's runs digital and drive-thru operations on cloud and generative AI. Its Google-backed drive-thru voice ordering (ArchIQ) is being tested at five US restaurants to cut labor costs and improve order accuracy, an operational, cost-side adoption that sits apart from the semiconductor AI demand chain.
- [confirms] BizNews USA (KO, news, published 2026-06-05) https://www.biznewsusa.com/post/20260605-2: "McDonald's is testing its drive-thru AI voice ordering system (ArchIQ) at five US restaurants, aiming to improve order accuracy and cut labor costs and wait times."
- [confirms] PR Newswire (McDonald's, Google Cloud) (EN, ir, published 2023-12-06) https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-and-google-cloud-announce-strategic-partnership-to-connect-latest-cloud-technology-and-apply-generative-ai-solutions-across-its-restaurants-worldwide-302006915.html: "McDonald's and Google Cloud announced a strategic partnership to connect the latest cloud technology and apply generative AI solutions across its restaurants worldwide."

### 에코랩 (mid)  → /ecolab.md
- note: McDonald's uses Ecolab products and programs to clean and sanitize floors, kitchens, and dining areas across more than 1,000 Australian restaurants, while transaction value and share of Ecolab revenue are not disclosed.
- [confirms] Ecolab (EN, news, published 2022-01-12) https://en-nz.ecolab.com/news/2022/01/mcdonalds-and-ecolab-maintain-the-highest-standards-of-safety: "McDonald's uses a range of Ecolab products and programmes to clean floors and sanitise the kitchen and restaurant."

Reverse side: https://valuechain.wiki/mcdonalds/customers.md · Ripple: https://valuechain.wiki/mcdonalds/ripple.md

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Full node: https://valuechain.wiki/mcdonalds.md · JSON: https://valuechain.wiki/mcdonalds.json