This week, McDonald’s completed 25 years in India. How time flies! I can still remember when the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Delhi in 1996.
Campaign India
With 1.2 billion Indians as potential consumers, 480 restaurants is a pittance for McDonald’s. The brand’s growth has been far slower than it should have been. And that has impacted both size and stature. The conquest of the India market has not been easy.
India must be one of the few countries in the world where burgers trail pizza. Of the estimated 6,500 QSR restaurants of international standing, Domino’s enjoys a whopping 19% market share in store count, pulling in 21% of all revenues through sales of pizzas. Even Subway with 500+ outlets numerically has better consumer outreach than McDonald’s. Thankfully, McDonald’s despite fewer store-fronts still pulls in 11% of all QSR revenues – though only a whisker ahead of KFC at 10% of revenues.
Success in one country does not guarantee success in another country.
According to AFP, McDonald’s will open its first vegetarian-only location next year near the Golden Temple, a pilgrimage site sacred to Sikhs located in the city of Amritsar in northern India. There is no meat allowed in the temple (or smoking or alcohol, for that matter.)
NPR Reports
They even opened All Vegetarian Mac Donald’s in India. All Vegetarian Mac Donalds. Tell this 4 words to any American and it will blow his/her mind.
If you haven’t already, watch the amazing documentary on founding of Mac Donald’s.