McDonald’s has experienced a rise in sales during the economic downturn as cash-strapped consumers have been increasingly attracted to its low-cost proposition.

Denis Hennequin, president of McDonald’s Europe told the Financial Times that he plans to hire 50 people at each of the 240 new restaurants, the majority of which will be in France, Italy, Poland, Russia and Spain. Most of the new jobs created in Europe will be part-time.

McDonald’s has enjoyed strong overseas success in the past few years, with half of its 31,000 sites located overseas. The firm’s sales rose by 7.6% in Europe last year.

The company puts its success down to a strategy of improving existing restaurant designs and improving menu choices rather than rapid expansion.