McDonalds opens its restaurant in Kerala's Kochi

In Kerala's Kochi, leading global foodservice retailer McDonald's on March 14 opened its first restaurant at Edapally. With this launch, McDonald's reaffirms its promise to expand and grow in the southern states, Amit Jatia, vice-chairman, Hardcastle Restaurants (HRPL), a Master Franchisee for West and South India operations of McDonald's Restaurants said on March 14.

The company's plans were to aggressively increase the retail footprint of McDonald's restaurants to fortify the brand's presence in the existing market as well as new markets, he said. McDonald's has a network of over 300 restaurants across the country.

He added that the company's target is to start and operationalise between 235-250 restaurants in south and western India by 2014 end and FY2015.