Mcdonalds in India

When travelling around India it is common to notice a fair share of McDonalds outlets around the country. At first it doesn’t seem surprising to see one of the worlds biggest brands spreading through a growing economy like India, however, how is a brand that inherently sells beef products doing so well in a country where beef is banned and even looked down upon. Of course, McDonalds came up with creative alternatives that attracted the Indian pallet. However, what makes McDonalds so popular in India is less to do with the food and more so with the branding. This is as the influence of popular American culture in India, like in many other Asian countries, is quite significant. This shines McDonalds in a different light to what it is perceived as in America and the western world. This is as in the US McDonalds is seen as a cheap and fast restaurant to order food and eat at. The average US citizen would likely not think of McDonalds as fine dining. However, in India the pretence of McDonalds being popular in the US causes people to perceive McDonalds as more of a sit-down, finer restaurant. Additionally, this is as in India McDonalds would not be considered as cheap per say as there are many cheaper alternatives to eat. Therefore, McDonalds’ clientele holds the restaurant in higher regard in India. This makes McDonalds a place where people go on dates and have family gatherings in India, something you’re less likely to see in a McDonalds in the US or any other western country.

Of course, the edits to the Indian menu in McDonalds also have a part to play. In a country where a large proportion of the population is vegetarian, McDonalds having flavourful vegetarian options in India, with dishes containing more spices and exotic flavours to cater to the Indian pallet. Creating dishes like the MCalootikki, a burger with a patty made of potatoes, peas and spices, has brought a lot of business to the brand.