McDonald’s India (North and East) said on Monday that it will hire around 5,000 people as it plans to double its outlets to 300 in the region over the next three years, according to its top official.
As part of its expansion strategy, it opened its largest restaurant in India on Monday in Guwahati, spread across 6,700 square feet and capable of feeding 220 people at a time.
According to Rajeev Ranjan, Managing Director of McDonald’s India (North and East), the company is on a rapid growth path and is looking to expand its network across the states under it.
“All issues and problems are behind us, and we are focused on growing our business,” he said in response to a question about whether the legal issues with the former McDonald’s partner had been resolved.
In 2020, the US fast food chain chose MMG Group Chairman Sanjeev Agrawal as its new partner to operate outlets in north and east India, following the purchase of a 50% stake from estranged partner Vikram Bakshi, who had dragged the multinational giant into a protracted legal battle. McDonald’s operates in India through two master franchisees: Sanjeev Agrawal’s MMG group in the north and east, and B L Jatia’s Westlife Group in the west and south. According to Ranjan, the company currently operates 156 restaurants in north and east India and it is looking to double the number of outlets within the next three years.
“We currently have over 5,000 employees on our rolls. As we expand we will continuously hire people. The number of employees will double in three years.” Ranjan stated that the new Guwahati location is McDonald’s largest in the north and east India region.
“Guwahati, being the gateway for northeast India, is a strategic location for us with future expansion possibilities. We are working to open more outlets in the northeastern region,” he added.
Ranjan, on the other hand, declined to discuss future expansion plans in the Northeast.