YPF closed a strategic alliance with Arcos Dorados, operator of McDonald's in Argentina and Latin America, to incorporate locations of the fast-food chain within its network of service stations. The agreement aims to transform the customer experience and expand the gastronomic offer in key points of the country, just a week after advancing with Tesla in an initiative for electric mobility and energy infrastructure.
The signing of the agreement was led by Horacio Marín, president and CEO of YPF, and Woods Staton, executive chairman of the board of Arcos Dorados, at the YPF Tower in Puerto Madero. The initiative comes six months after Marín publicly anticipated his intention to advance in a partnership with the company.
Horacio Marin with Woods Staton
“This alliance represents a key step in our strategy to transform the network and enhance the customer experience. Furthermore, it is the realization of a personal dream: to bring McDonald's to where only YPF can reach, to every corner of the country,” said Marín after the signing of the agreement.
The oil company has the largest network of service stations in the country, with a market share close to 55%. This territorial reach will be one of the central assets of the new scheme, which will allow bringing McDonald's offerings to new locations and strengthening the role of the stations as spaces for consumption, rest, and services.
The alliance would be complemented by YPF's recently launched "Black" format.
The agreement includes three implementation modalities. The first will be the freestanding format, with independent restaurants located outside the Full Stores and with the possibility of incorporating AutoMac. The second will be an integrated model with a shared dining area, within the same structure of the station, where the location will coexist with the store and tables for customers. The third option will be an integrated format without a shared dining area, with differentiated spaces within the building and the possibility of Drive Thru.
From Arcos Dorados, it was highlighted that the alliance coincides with the 40th anniversary of McDonald's in Argentina and opens a new growth opportunity for the brand. Staton emphasized that the agreement allows uniting “the strength of two brands deeply rooted in Argentines” and expanding the service segments to adapt to new consumption habits.
The incorporation of McDonald's is part of the modernization process that YPF has been promoting in its network. Under Marín's leadership, the company has already presented differentiated formats such as YPF Black, aimed at the premium segment, and RefiPlus, designed for markets with lower demand and lower operational costs.
Just a week ago, YPF sealed an agreement with the tech company Tesla.
The first YPF Black was inaugurated in Nordelta and included services such as personalized attention, technical assistance, quick control spaces for vehicles, and a broader gastronomic proposal. In parallel, RefiPlus had its first opening in Salta, as part of a strategy aimed at adapting each station to the market in which it operates.
With this agreement, YPF seeks to leave behind the idea of the service station as a simple fuel charging point. The company's bet is to transform its network into a comprehensive platform for mobility, consumption, and services, with recognized brands and new formats capable of attracting more customers throughout the country.
