Yet another global name has entered Coimbatore’s list of eat outs. McDonald’s is now open at Fun Republic in E-City on Avinashi Road.
The 3,470 sq.ft., two floor restaurant with 160 seats was opened on Monday. Next to Chennai, McDonald’s has expanded to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Apart from its burgers and French fries, McDonald’s has McValue Lunch menu and added McEgg burger as part of the Happy Price menu, according to a release from the company.
Smita Jatia, Director of Hardcastle Restaurants that establishes McDonald’s outlets in western and southern States, told The Hindu that the company has about 10 stalls in Tamil Nadu and planned to open 35 to 50 more in the next three to five years. The informal eating out sector was growing at 15 per cent to 19 per cent year-on-year and McDonald’s was registering 35 per cent to 40 per cent growth in sales. It was opening nearly 50 outlets every year. The western and southern States had 140 McDonald’s stalls.
Amit Jatia, vice-chairman of Hardcastle Restaurants, said that the company planned to invest Rs. 500 crore during the next three years to establish more outlets. “McDonald’s is present in several tier-town cities in the country. Its suppliers had invested Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 1000 crore in the last 10 years. Supply chain expansion is a continuous exercise,” he said.
McDonald’s now employed nearly 12,000 people across the country and would hire nearly 2,000 more in Tamil Nadu during the next three to four years.
“The company is poised to grow further in the South as a market for its strategic development and expansion,” he said.
