Fast-food giant McDonald’s will be providing its franchisees roughly $8.5 billion to accelerate restaurant modernization, deploy technology and provide rent assistance as they face an increasingly competitive environment.

The Chicago-based company, the largest hamburger chain in the world, unveiled its plan to boost its operators on Wednesday during its investor day. The $8.5 billion in support will roll out through 2036, including roughly $5 billion through 2030, “through a combination of rent relief and capital support,” McDonald’s said.

In the second quarter, McDonald’s reported that its global systemwide sales rose 5%, while global comparable sales increased 1.3%. But the burger sector is being roiled. Burger King’s new revamped Whopper has caught the attention of consumers.

And Wendy’s has now fallen to be No. 3 chain behind Burger King, with its U.S. sales down and new CEO Bob Wright saying the quality of its food has deteriorated. Just last week, one of Wendy’s biggest U.S. franchisees, Meritage Hospitality Group, filed for Chapter 11 protection and has closed dozens of restaurants.

McDonald’s strategy and operator support is expected to result in about “250 basis points of gross restaurant-level efficiency improvements … equivalent to roughly $100,000 in annual cash flow benefits for the average U.S. restaurant, the majority of which is expected to benefit the restaurant’s bottom line over time,” according to the company.

The chain said it estimates that “the investments will generate a roughly four-year payback for franchisees, after partnering, while improving both customer and crew experiences.”

McDonald’s has the scale and operational capabilities “to not only adapt to the next wave of change in our industry, but to turn it into an advantage,” CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a statement.

The strategy includes “elevated execution, simplifying operations, modernizing restaurant design and deploying artificial intelligence-based technology to improve efficiency,” according to McDonald’s.

The chain opened 2,275 new restaurants in 2025 and is on track to reach its goal of having about 50,000 restaurants by the end of 2027, McDonald’s said.

The company is targeting 1.5 percentage points of market share gains in both the chicken and beverage categories by 2030 while maintaining its leadership position in beef.