Day 125 - 12 May 95 - Page 03


     
     1        happen to be.  I do know that he is, I believe, from some
     2        comments from colleagues, that he is engaged in some
     3        operations training at present.
     4
     5   Q.   But he still visits countries, different countries, around
     6        the world as part of his duties, does he?
     7        A.  I am not immediately conversant on what his recent
     8        duties have been; that may or may not be true.
     9
    10   Q.   Do you know Edie Bensilum?
    11        A.  I do not know.  I have heard the name; I do not know
    12        him well, no.
    13
    14   Q.   It is a woman actually.
    15
    16   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  That answers your question, does it not?
    17
    18   THE WITNESS:  I have heard the name but ......
    19
    20   MR. MORRIS:  Do you know about sesame seeds?  You use sesame
    21        seeds in your product?
    22        A.  Yes, sesames are used for Big Mac buns.
    23
    24   Q.   I am not sure where we have heard this, but we heard that
    25        all your sesame seeds are bought from Mexico.  Are you
    26        aware of that?
    27        A.  I believe that is true.  There was a change a couple of
    28        years ago but I am not absolutely certain of that.  You
    29        will have to enquire from our Purchasing.
    30
    31   Q.   We asked Mr. Oakley, Senior Vice President of McDonald's UK
    32        and Ireland and Chief Purchasing Officer for Northern
    33        Europe, I think -- do you know him?
    34        A.  I have met him on occasion.
    35
    36   Q.   We asked him about McDonald's policy of buying products
    37        locally, wherever possible, and he said that they buy the
    38        products locally, but not necessarily the ingredients of
    39        the products.  Do you understand the distinction between
    40        product and ingredients ---
    41        A.  Yes, I do.
    42
    43   Q.   -- to buy finished products locally?  Is that a general
    44        corporate policy, to buy finished products locally where
    45        possible but not necessarily the ingredients?
    46        A.  Where possible we try to buy, not only the finished
    47        products, but the ingredients that also go into the various
    48        products, if it makes economic sense.
    49
    50   Q.   So is that a policy, to buy ingredients locally? 
    51        A.  I would not call it a "policy".  It is the general 
    52        rule, general guideline, to try to do so.  There is not a 
    53        definite policy.  What we want to try to do is have the
    54        very best products that we can provide our consumer at the
    55        most economic -- at the best prices.
    56
    57   Q.   So it is dependent upon economics?
    58        A.  Partially.  As I have just indicated, quality is utmost
    59         -- of utmost importance and next to that would be value.
    60

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