NEW DELHI: McDonald’s India North and East is set to double the number of stores it operates to 300 in three years on the back of growing visitor numbers and strong consumer sentiment. In addition, the company is in the process of modernizing its existing restaurants, having managed to renovate 36 stores to date.
“The restaurants are old. We had to re-imagine them,” Sanjeev Agrawal, president and development licensee, McDonald’s India North and East. “Our plan is to overhaul 150 stores in two years. ”
Agrawal took over McDonald’s business in north and east India in 2020 from the American burger giant, which has been trying to separate it from its long-estranged partner Vikram Bakshi years ago after a lengthy legal battle resulted in an out-of-court settlement. While Bakshi and McDonald’s operate Connaught Plaza Restaurants (CPRL), a 50:50 joint venture (JV), the sandwich maker’s other business in India led by Amit Jatia’s Hardcastle Restaurants, which manages the operating in south and west India.
“We are shifting our focus to West Bengal, Rajasthan and UP next after streamlining operations in Punjab and Delhi NCR,” said Agrawal, who also runs one of the country’s largest domestic bottling operations. Coca-Cola, told TOI.
The push for rapid expansion comes as legacy issues creep into the business.
“The restaurants are old. We had to re-imagine them,” Sanjeev Agrawal, president and development licensee, McDonald’s India North and East. “Our plan is to overhaul 150 stores in two years. ”
Agrawal took over McDonald’s business in north and east India in 2020 from the American burger giant, which has been trying to separate it from its long-estranged partner Vikram Bakshi years ago after a lengthy legal battle resulted in an out-of-court settlement. While Bakshi and McDonald’s operate Connaught Plaza Restaurants (CPRL), a 50:50 joint venture (JV), the sandwich maker’s other business in India led by Amit Jatia’s Hardcastle Restaurants, which manages the operating in south and west India.
“We are shifting our focus to West Bengal, Rajasthan and UP next after streamlining operations in Punjab and Delhi NCR,” said Agrawal, who also runs one of the country’s largest domestic bottling operations. Coca-Cola, told TOI.
The push for rapid expansion comes as legacy issues creep into the business.
