Westlife Foodworld plans 20-minute McDonald’s delivery to increase sales by 2027

INDIA – Westlife Foodworld, the master franchisee for McDonald’s in western and southern India, has announced plans to introduce a 20-minute delivery option on its own app to drive sales growth.

The company aims to lift same-store sales by 3% to 5% by 2027 with this accelerated delivery model, which has been successfully piloted.

Currently, delivery accounts for around 40% of Westlife’s total sales, fulfilled through McDelivery, Swiggy, and Zomato. CEO Akshay Jatia highlighted that this strategy will strengthen their delivery business and reduce reliance on third-party platforms.

The company projects cash flow generation of INR 400-500 million (US$4.55 million to US$5.69 million) in 2025/26 from this initiative.

This comes amid softer demand in India’s major cities due to rising living costs and increased competition from neighborhood outlets.

For Q2 ending September 30, same-store sales declined 2.8%. Rising input and labor costs increased overall expenses by 7%, though revenue grew 3.8%.

Westlife plans to expand its footprint to 580-630 restaurants by 2027, focusing on digital and menu innovations under its Vision 2027 strategy, aiming to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.

McDonald’s India has pursued aggressive expansion and innovation strategies over the past two years to capture market share and enhance customer engagement.

The master franchisees plan to nearly double the number of outlets by 2027, with Westlife Foodworld targeting 580 to 630 restaurants, opening 45-50 stores annually.

Connaught Plaza Restaurants, covering North and East India, aims to increase store count to over 500 by 2030 with a US$150 million investment.

Investment in digital technology is strong, including McDonald’s Global Business Services (GBS) center in Hyderabad, aimed at boosting efficiency through data-driven insights and automation.

AI-driven initiatives focus on personalized customer experiences, supply chain optimization, and demand forecasting.

Menu innovation also plays a key role, with regionalized offerings such as fried chicken in South India and health-focused items appearing alongside global staples.

Marketing investments include celebrity endorsements and robust digital advertising.

These strategies align with Westlife’s 20-minute delivery rollout and aim to grow sales despite tough market conditions.

The focus on innovation and expansion positions McDonald’s India to capture demand in metro and smaller cities alike.

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