Bedford’s High Street McDonald’s is run by very community-minded team.

Franchisee of 10 McDonald’s restaurants, Ismail Anilmis is a former member of the Bedford BID Board and now his High Street Manager Zap Hussain represents the highly successful restaurant on the board.

Involved in street clean ups and litter collection, being the only town centre business in the council’s ‘community toilet scheme’ to be open after 5.30pm, and, having a team who collect cash for charity is all in a long day’s work for McDonald’s Bedford.

Most recently Ismail took part in the High Street Sports Traider and local Rotary backed wheelchair challenge held at the International Stadium Barker’s Lane in October (Ismail photographed with the rest of the squad)

Over the summer, Zap and young volunteers took part in a cross-town clean up campaign (photograph shows young people in McDonald’s-supplied kit) with staff from the Harpur Centre. Zap also took part in a 300 mile cycle ride from Oxford to Leiden in the Netherlands to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House charity which provides accommodation to the families of children who are in hospital.

McDonald’s Bedford also supports the Bedford Ladies FC and they were invited to the official re-launch of the High Street March 2015 following a modernisation. This coincided with the 20th anniversary of the Aspects McDonald’s, also run by Ismail’s team.

Said Ismail, I & A Restaurants Ltd: “As a local businessman, I understand the importance of investing in the community, so it’s great to be able to play a part in the re-generation of the area and bring an extra boost the local economy, while also supporting the local community,

“It is over the 34 years since Bedford High Street first opened and 40 years since McDonald’s launched in the UK.”

Ismail’s wife AnnMarie Anilmis supports the Bedford Branch of the British Red Cross with fund-raising and she is part of the team supporting the Christmas Fair at the Great Hall, Bedford School on December 12th.