and Dunkin Donuts. But unlike China, which saw a decline in fast-food sales last year, India's market is expected to grow, thanks to changing consumer preferences and the largest youth population on earth.India's population stands at 1.2 billion, but it has only a little over 2,700 chain fast food outlets, leaving most people unreached, according to Euromonitor International. Fast food has yet to broadly expand beyond the largest cities.
Jatia plans to establish 175 to 250 McDonald's restaurants in the next five years across west and south India. McDonald's tweaked about 70 percent of its menu for the Indian market, according to Euromonitor. That meant staying away from beef in a country where cows have religious significance, and appealing to a population that tends to enjoy spicy food with options like McSpicy Paneer and Chicken Maharaja Mac. They've also opened some 100 percent vegetarian restaurants.
"We have localized our menu and due to this, we are not just seen as an international brand, but one which the people of India feel comfortable with," said Jatia.