McDonald’s opens near Wrocław as Fit Cake launches in London

McDonald’s has expanded its network with a franchised restaurant in Żerniki Wrocławskie, while Polish brand Fit Cake has opened an outlet in London. Both openings are backed by entrepreneurs with existing business experience. Reported by Franchising.pl on 13 November 2026, the news highlights two routes to franchise growth: further investment by an existing franchisee in Poland and international expansion by a Polish brand.

McDonald’s opens a new restaurant in Żerniki Wrocławskie

The new McDonald’s is located at 1 Zasłuczańska Street in Żerniki Wrocławskie, near Wrocław. It is run by franchisee Arkadiusz Cichosz, who also operates a McDonald’s restaurant in Wrocław. The opening therefore represents an expansion by an existing franchise partner rather than the arrival of a new one.

The restaurant has 130 seats, as well as an outdoor seating area and playground. Inside, there is a separate play area equipped with interactive games. The new premises therefore combine dining space with facilities for families with children.

For those following the franchise sector, the key point is the connection between the new location and the operator’s existing business. Arkadiusz Cichosz runs a restaurant in Wrocław and is now also responsible for the nearby Żerniki Wrocławskie outlet. This is a concrete example of growth through an additional location operated by the same franchisee. The opening alone, however, says nothing about the new restaurant’s financial performance or investment payback period — these issues should be considered separately from the network’s expansion.

Franchisees run more than 90% of the brand’s restaurants

According to information cited by Franchising.pl, franchisees operate more than 90% of McDonald’s restaurants in Poland. The Żerniki Wrocławskie opening therefore fits a model in which franchise partners run the vast majority of the brand’s outlets. The chain continues to invite applications from entrepreneurs interested in operating restaurants under its name.

It is important to interpret this figure precisely: it refers to restaurants, not the number of business owners. Arkadiusz Cichosz’s case illustrates why the distinction matters — one franchisee can operate more than one outlet. Nor does the proportion of franchised restaurants reveal anything on its own about individual outlets’ revenues or the terms available to new applicants.

For anyone considering joining the brand, news of the opening could provide a starting point for discussions about running a single restaurant and the potential for subsequent growth. An existing franchisee’s experience should not, however, be treated as a promise that every new partner will follow the same path. This is an example of a completed investment, not a universal timetable for business development.

Fit Cake opens a franchised ‘alternative cake shop’ in London

The second opening is by Polish brand Fit Cake. Its new outlet is at 335 London Road in Mitcham, London. The franchisee behind it is Paweł Puzelko, a Polish entrepreneur who runs shops, restaurants and a Polish school in the UK.

Fit Cake London Mitcham is the first of three locations Puzelko plans to open with the chain. At this stage, the trading outlet should therefore be distinguished from the two further locations in his plans. The Mitcham opening is complete; the other locations remain planned additions to his business.

London joins the international cities where Fit Cake operates, including Berlin, Toronto and Oslo. The brand is expanding through partnerships with Polish franchisees based abroad. The London outlet is another example of this approach, extending the international presence of the Polish ‘alternative cake shop’ concept.

As with the new McDonald’s, the opening is backed by an entrepreneur with business experience. The difference lies in the starting point: the investor in Żerniki Wrocławskie already operates a restaurant under the same brand, while Fit Cake’s London partner also runs other ventures.

Further UK openings planned

Fit Cake says it plans to open at least five more UK outlets by the end of 2027. This is the chain’s stated expansion plan for the market and should be distinguished from Paweł Puzelko’s individual plan for three outlets. There is no basis for automatically adding the two announcements together as separate sets of future openings.

According to the brand’s head office, preparations are also under way to open outlets in Switzerland and the United States, alongside negotiations over the first locations in India. These expansion projects are therefore at different stages: from an operating outlet in London, through preparations for openings, to talks about entering another market.

Practical takeaway: when assessing a franchise opportunity, consider trading outlets, franchisees’ experience and the chain’s future plans separately. A new opening provides a concrete reference point; announced expansion should prompt questions about timescales, franchise terms and the support available.