July 1, 2009
McDonald's to accelerate expansion in India
While much of India's retail sector is struggling amid the economic slowdown, McDonald's has been largely unaffected and is planning to accelerate its expansion on the subcontinent, according to Amit Jatia, chairman of McDonald's in western and southern India.
The fast food giant plans to open another 40 restaurants across India, bringing the total close to 200 outlets, he said.
Last year, McDonald's opened about 25 restaurants. Traffic in 2009 has also increased 10-15 percent each month compared with the previous year, Jatia said.
McDonald's adapts to local tastes, removing beef from its menus in India and replacing the red meat with chicken burgers and vegetable patties.
The popularity of Chicken McNuggets has helped boosted sales since it was introduced in May, with some stores running out of stocks, he said.
McDonald's India is a joint venture between the Oak Brook, Ill., company and two domestic partners.
