A Belfast man has told how he has no regrets after quitting his high-powered supermarket job to work under the golden arches.
Former Tesco boss Stephen Cochrane joined McDonald’s in July 2024 after 32 years at the retail giant.
For the one-time schoolboy worker, it was a case of starting small and going a long way.
“When I was 16, I started pushing trollies and stacking shelves,” the 51-year-old said.
“I loved working at Tesco. It was fantastic. And I was happy.
“But I always wanted to have my own business and, finally, I was brave enough to make the jump.”
Stephen said he believes the lessons learned at Tesco will always stand him in good stead.
“Retail was a tough business,” the Saintfield-based father-of-three said.
“I was looking after Northern Ireland when Tesco was the biggest private sector employer.
“We had just under 10,000 people working for us. It was a big organisation. I loved the challenge.
“I had a great salary, with great bonuses, but I always thought there was something else out there for me.”
Stephen, who has two sons and a daughter – Oliver (22), Luke (20) and Anna (16) – with accountant wife Janice, said the McDonald’s business model appealed to him.
“As a Franchisee, you own and operate your own restaurant but benefit from the guidance, training and support that comes with being part of a globally recognised brand,” he said.
His application, in late 2023, kicked off the process of becoming a Franchisee.
Having officially started his training in July 2024, he took ownership of his first restaurant on Belfast’s Saintfield Road in November 2025.
He celebrated his success with his wife at a restaurant. “I was flying home to meet Janice when McDonald’s phoned to say I’d been successful,” he said.
“I ordered a bottle of champagne to the table and then surprised her with the great news.”
For Stephen, the worlds of retail and serving customers food are not dissimilar.
“I’m working with big teams of people and with lots of customers,” he said.
“And the businesses are aligned. They’re both people-facing and customer-centric.
“McDonald’s is challenging; it’s a fast-moving, dynamic business but I’m really enjoying it.
“Being a franchisee gives me flexibility. I could be at the restaurant five days a week or seven, it just depends.
“It doesn’t take away from the hard work, the number of people you look after, or the volume of customers you serve.”
McDonald’s Saintfield Road has 110 staff and is open from 6am until midnight five days a week, and 24 hours on Friday and Saturday.
Even before owning and running his own franchise, Filet-O-Fish lover Stephen admitted he was partial to the food.
“I frequented McDonald’s quite often,” he added.
“When I lived in Belfast, Saintfield Road was my local restaurant.
“When our kids were babies and wouldn’t sleep at night, my wife and I would put them in the car and come to the drive-thru for coffee, hoping they would doze off in the back.
“I remember that clearly so I have a lot of affinity with this particular site.”
In his mind, his first restaurant marks the beginning of an exciting journey with the company.
If all goes to plan, he hopes to have more restaurants in the coming years.
Already, his children have had a taste of the brave new world their father is now immersed in.
Oliver, a graduate, and Luke, who’s a student, both worked in McDonald’s, while A Level pupil Anna has started shifts.
“I started working at Tesco when I was 16 so I always encouraged my kids to get a job,” Stephen said.
“It’s good for their independence and for the friendships you make. It also stands you in good stead for future employment.
“Oliver was a Shift Manager whilst doing his university degree and that was something that impressed his now employer, Citibank.
“Luke’s now a Crew Trainer and he appreciates how working part-time, in addition to being a student, helped his brother get his first job after uni.”
McDonald’s is one of the largest private sector employers of young people in the UK, with three quarters of its workforce aged between 16 and 25.
Describing himself as “very ambitious”, Stephen said his aim is to grow his business further in the coming years.
“I’m also keen to bring employment to people in local areas, particularly young people,” he said.
“I really love the people aspect of the business, as well as the community side of things.
“I’m starting to work on a community plan whereby I hope to sponsor local teams, for example.
“McDonald’s is well known for its support of local communities. I want to build on that at Saintfield Road by sponsoring local grassroots sports teams and community organisations.
“I also want to give young people in the area the opportunity for employment and career progression and to continue creating opportunities in the restaurant through McDonald’s apprenticeships.”
