McDonald’s India has chalked out plans to reach out to newer markets by adding as many as 175-250 outlets in the West and South in the next 3-5 years.
There is a tremendous scope for penetration, as the western fast foods market in the South stands at 18 per cent compared with 48 per cent in Mumbai. Penetration of Indian Eating Out market is too low in the South, said Ranjit Paliath, Vice-President, Business Operations, McDonald’s India West & South operations.
Paliath, who was here to launch the new Chicken Wings menu in the South, said that the company has earmarked an investment of ₹700-750 crore for opening outlets with new customer outreach formats and innovative menu edition.
The company had entered the southern market with the launch of an outlet in Bangalore in 2006. This number has gone up to 83 and the restaurant footprint is at par with West India offering a huge potential for growth, he told BusinessLine.
Of the total 209 outlets in the West and in the South, he said 25 per cent comprises ‘drive thru’ offering convenience and easy consumer access besides giving a competitive advantage to the company in the long-term. This is because of the increase in frequency of eating outs, especially in metro cities which has gone up to 7-8 times in a month against 3 times a decade ago.