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Mike Matthews, who runs restaurants at Markeaton Island, the Meteor Centre and in St Peter’s Street, is allowed to buy his own uniforms for staff, as well as company supplies. He felt that those worn by his staff for the last five years had become a little outdated and he wanted something that would stand out. But, despite being in an area that used to have a thriving textile industry, he has had to buy new kit from abroad. “I contacted two UK-based McDonald’s suppliers, including one in Derby,” he said. “Neither could supply me with what I wanted at what I considered a reasonable price. I went to a separate company in London which was not interested because the order was considered too small.”

He then went to the clothes suppliers for McDonald’s in Portugal. “The owner was prepared to make to my order and design, produce and ship the clothes over within five weeks,” he said. The total price, including shipping, was £10,000 for clothes for 246 staff. Each person gets two sets of trousers, three shirts, belt, cap, and apron. The new black kit, with the McDonald’s symbol at the back of the collar and on the cap, replaces blue and yellow check and burgundy check designs. “Staff wanted the black but thought I would consider it too cool,” said Mr Matthews. “But the key matter is that if the staff are happy with their uniforms it raises their self-esteem confidence and is good for business. I’m sad that I had to go abroad for the goods because 96 per cent of all food products served in McDonald’s in this country are sourced in the UK, equivalent to £350m a year.”

According to the Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades Union, 100,000 textile industry jobs, many in the East Midlands, have been lost in the last four years as manufacturers have switched production to the Far East and North Africa. Union general secretary Paul Gates said he was disappointed at the situation. “This customer has obviously gone to a supplier who can meet demands for quality, delivery and price,” he said. “I’m sad that he has had to go to Portugal to get this service because I firmly believe that there are a number of UK manufacturers who could have supplied that product and service. More and more manufacturers will have to meet these demands if they want to stay in business.”