Fast food giant, McDonald is all set to enter the land of Dosa and Idli targeting fast changing life style in metropolitan south. McDonald’s is planning to enter Hyderabad and Chennai shortly.

Amit Jatia, joint venture partner and managing director, McDonald (western India), said, “We will be further expanding our operation in south by opening up a third outlet.” Currently, McDonald is carrying out its expansion plan in Gujarat where it will soon open its first outlet at Surat by May 15 and add a second outlet in Vadodara.

“McDonald has invested Rs 3 crore in its Surat outlet," he added. He further added that under the all India expansion plan, the company will be investing Rs 300 crore in next two to three years time.

“Currently we have 85 outlets which we intend to double in next two to three year time”, said Jatia. Jatia said, “We are looking forward to establish one each restaurant in Hyderabad and Chennai, respectively”.

Recently, McDonald opened its second outlet at Bangalore. “The Hyderabad outlet operation will kick off by the second half of the calendar year of 2006 while in case of Chennai the outlet will open by the end of 2007”, he said.

Explaining its manoeuvre in south India, Jatia said, “It’s logical to enter in these two cities as both are booming metros. We believe that Hyderabad certainly have a great potential market that made us decide to venture into it.”

About the location of the restaurants at Hyderabad and Chennai, he preferred to remain silent at present and said, “The entire things in process.” However, he hinted that the company has to earmark an approximate fund of Rs 3 crore for each outlet with the additional cost of the property.

(www.business-standard.com)