Connaught Plaza Restaurants to invest up to US$150M, targeting 600 McDonald’s outlets in India by 2030

INDIA – Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd (CPRL), the master franchisee for McDonald’s in northern and eastern India, has announced an ambitious expansion plan, aiming to double its store count to 600 by 2030 by investing up to US$150 million.

CPRL, currently operating 245 outlets, aims to expand to 300 outlets by the end of 2025.

This expansion includes modernizing existing stores to the “Experience of the Future” (EOTF) format and introducing smaller-format stores in emerging Tier III cities like Gangtok, Siliguri, and Guwahati.

Additionally, CPRL plans to increase the number of McCafé outlets from 125 to 200 by the end of this year.

This growth strategy is aligned with CPRL’s goal to enhance its presence in under-penetrated markets and meet the changing preferences of Indian consumers.

Anant Agarwal, vice-chairman of MMG Group and CPRL, shared that the company has already opened new stores in cities such as Gangtok, Siliguri, and Guwahati, noting that these regions show great potential.

He highlighted how customers in these smaller markets had eagerly awaited the arrival of the brand, leading to strong sales.

Agarwal emphasized that the expansion strategy would combine new cities, states, and existing locations to create a balanced growth approach.

The company’s focus on modernizing outlets is evident in the planned rollout of the EOTF format across its portfolio.

Agarwal also mentioned the strategy to target Tier III locations with more compact store formats, as traditional McDonald’s outlets typically occupy around 3,000 ft².

The compact stores aim to facilitate the brand’s reach into smaller towns.

In these regions, dine-in sales contribute 65% of McDonald’s revenue, with delivery services accounting for 35%.

The expansion strategy is part of McDonald’s broader effort to increase its footprint in the Indian subcontinent through strategic partnerships.

Westlife Foodworld Ltd., which operates McDonald’s outlets across West and South India, also continues its expansion efforts. In early April, it inaugurated a new outlet in Madurai, bringing the total number of locations in Tamil Nadu to 38.

The multi-level restaurant in Madurai will offer McDonald’s classic burgers and a variety of fried chicken items, including McSpicy Fried Chicken and McSpicy Chicken Wings, as well as McCafé beverages.

Saurabh Kalra, Managing Director of McDonald’s India (West and South), expressed excitement about the expansion, stating that the company aims to bring McDonald’s to more communities in South India.

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