‘We expect sharp growth in ‘outside’ food consumption’

McDonald’s India (West & South), operated by Westlife Foodworld, took a step recently towards what it calls “mindful indulgence”.

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It has launched a 'Protein Plus Range', featuring a plant-based protein slice that adds 5 grams of protein to any burger. The fast food company is also adding muscle to its app ecosystem, while expanding its current footprint of 444 stores. Akshay Jatia, CEO of Westlife Foodworld, spoke to Christina Moniz about its efforts to enhance its menu nutritionally while negotiating “challenging times”. Edited excerpts:

What are the basic tenets of your Vision 2027 initiative? Is that plan only for India or does it apply globally?

Vision 2027 represents the strategic roadmap for our next phase of growth, built around four key pillars. First, we are focusing on a meals strategy—achieving market leadership in core day parts through menu innovation and targeted marketing. Second, our omnichannel strategy aims to integrate various customer touchpoints into a seamless One McDonald's platform. This involves enhancing digital capabilities while ensuring consistent experiences whether customers engage with us through our restaurants, delivery platforms, or mobile applications. Third, we are accelerating our network expansion to reach 580-630 restaurants by 2027.This growth will focus on both fortifying existing markets and penetrating underserved geographies, particularly in South India and emerging towns. Finally, we are committed to leading with performance, targeting superior business metrics through operational excellence.

Tell us more about your expansion plans.