McDonald’s Success Story in India

McDonald’s is one of the world’s largest fast-food restaurants. It daily serves around 68 million customers in 119 countries. McDonald’s is loved by the youths in India. It is also said that youth prefer to study at colleges where McDonald’s outlets are nearby. Thus, the journey of “I M Lovin it!” began in India, and now this brand has completed its 25 years in this country. In this article, we will learn about McDonald’s success story in India.

How McDonald’s conquered India?

The man behind the phenomenal growth of McDonald’s in India is Amit Jatia.  While staying in Japan, he walked into a McDonald’s outlet for the first time at the age of 14. After tasting the milkshake there, he just loved it. In 1994, the first food giant of America first contacted him and promised that there would be no pork or beef on the McDonald’s menu. And gradually, the journey of McDonald’s in India began.

In the year 2003, Amit first introduced the Aloo Tikki Burger for 20 rupees. Now, Aloo Tikki, which is found in every Indian street food, is McDonald’s version of street food. The price and value together were a big hit, and it revolutionised the Indian fast food industry. Currently, McDonald’s in India has more than 320 million customers per year.

Customers at McDonald’s India

McDonald’s attracts different kinds of customers in India compared with other countries. Indian families having young children always prefer to visit the McDonald’s outlet. Other than that, for working professionals and college students McDonald’s is the first preference. Now, there are several McDonald’s restaurants rapidly growing in India. Thus, we can say that McDonald’s success story in India is very remarkable, and it is mainly attributed to two things. Firstly, a happy meal for the children. And second, a full value meal for adults. It combines a complete family package in the McDonald’s outlet.

Why is McDonald’s in India as well as in the world successful?

All the McDonald’s outlets in India and the world are successful because of a few reasons. These reasons are the following:

·      Consistency

For customers visiting McDonald’s in India, America, California, or Australia, the experience will be similar in all the McDonald’s franchises. McDonald’s maintains consistency in their menu, taste, food wrapping, and also the design of their building. In 1961, in the training school of Hamburger University of Ray Kroc, it was specially mentioned that restaurants’ operation procedures, quality, service as well as cleanliness must be consistent. Consistency will also increase the productivity of a restaurant.

·      Brand Slogan

Behind McDonald’s success story, the emotional brand slogan ‘I’m Lovin’ plays a vital role. It also created history. This slogan takes the customers back to their childhood. Although there are many better products on the market, most people have a bond with McDonald’s, and it is unbreakable. And this is the reason so many people show their love for McDonald’s. The fries available at McDonald’s have the same look and taste irrespective of any place.

·      Adapt Customer’s Needs

McDonald’s realises that it is very important to adapt to the wants and needs of a customer. They always prefer to serve healthier options to the customers as they are becoming more health-conscious now. Moreover, based on the local favourites, McDonald’s also offers regional items.

·      Risk-Taking

Although McDonald’s always focuses on maintaining consistency, they are never afraid of taking risks and improving their menu. The original and the very fast menu of McDonald’s included only cheeseburger, hamburger, shake, fries and beverages. But over the past years, the McDonald’s chain has included breakfast items, McNuggets, salads, Filet-O-Fish, the McRibs, and the Happy Meal.

·      Perfect cross-sell of products

Cross-selling is very important in all businesses. It means co-promoting the other products along with that product which you are buying. McDonald’s has the most popular cross-sell of all time, ‘Would you like to have fries with that?’ This is the best way to increase sales. But it is also important not to force the customer. Wait and listen to the customer’s orders first, get the information about the sale, and then realise why this could add value to the final purchase.

·      Learn to work with colleagues

The employees working in McDonald’s not only need to work with the customers, but they also need to know how to work with their colleagues. For every business, suitable speaking and working with one another is very much valuable. Careful behaviour towards each other is essential for gaining success and for the growth of the business.

·      Understand the importance of Philanthropy

Giving back is just very good for business, and McDonald’s understands this importance like many other philanthropy businesses. McDonald’s is very well known for giving back to the community via the Ronald McDonald House Charities, fundraisers, college scholarships, and mentorship programmes.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned about McDonald’s success story in India. Like the other countries, there are also more than 320 million customers per year in the McDonald’s outlets in India. The important reasons that made McDonald’s successful in India, as well as other countries, are consistency, brand slogan, customer’s needs adaption, work culture, etc.