The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that McDonald's expects to open nearly 10,000 restaurants over the next four years. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe reports that McDonald's said on Wednesday it aims to have 50,000 restaurants in operation worldwide by the end of 2027. McDonald's had 40,275 restaurants at the start of this year. It plans to open 900 new stores in the U.S. and 1,900 in international markets with company operated and franchised restaurants such as Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia. McDonald's plans another 7,000 stores in international markets that are operated by licensees. More than half of those stores would be in China. McDonald's said the explosive growth of delivery demand makes it critical to get restaurant locations even closer to customers so food can arrive faster. McDonald's delivery made up $1-billion (U.S.) in global sales in 2017. That has grown to more than $16-billion (U.S.). Chief executive officer Chris Kempczinski said new restaurants will likely have dedicated pickup areas for delivery drivers to ease restaurant congestion. Mr. Kempczinski is not concerned about cannibalizing sales from existing McDonald's locations.