Will the new Indian McDonald's (MCD) serve two all-soy patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese?

Posted May 26th 2009 3:00PM by Beth Gaston Moon
Filed under: Consumer Experience, Competitive Strategy, India, McDonald's (MCD)

McDonalds India serves paneer salsa wrap

Does the word "McVeggie" seem like an oxymoron to you? No, it's just the latest way McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), the fast-food behemoth that made its name serving cheap hamburgers, is adapting to the world's demands.

In an effort to expand more into Indian markets, where vegetarianism is the common lifestyle, McDonald's has devised a menu completely lacking in beef and pork. According to IndiaMarks, an online guide to "everything India," some of the items featured on Indian McDonald's menus include:

McVeggie: Vegetarian patty with all the fixings on, yes, a sesame-seed bun.
McAloo Tikki: Vegetarian patty made from potatoes and peas, garnished with tomato and vegetarian mayonnaise.
Paneer Salsa Wrap: Paneer (homemade cheese) breaded and fried, then topped with a salad mixture, veggie mayo, and cheese.
Veg McCurry Pan: Similar to pizza, this is crust topped with sauce and vegetables.
Pizza McPuff: A crust stuffed with tomoato-based sauce, vegetables, and mozzarella cheese.

Call me un-American, but some of these sound like darn tasty treats, and certainly better than the last Big Mac I ate a few months before I too decided to cut mammals out of my diet. And let's give "cheers" to McDonald's for working to adapt to their customer base (while respecting Indian religions in the process).

Beth works for The Options News Network (www.ONN.tv), which provides daily options commentary. The above comments are not intended as trading advice.

Tags: featured, india, mcd, mcdonalds, vegetarian

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-26-2009 @ 3:53PM

required said...

sounds better than what they sell in the states

5-26-2009 @ 4:31PM

Uthfull said...

No one really eats Pork and Beef in India due to religious restrictions. Chicken is what is most popular. It's not like every Indian is a vegan. I'm a non-vegetarian myself but the McVeggie and McAloo Tikki burgers are delicious. you have to hand it to McD for coming up with them. These meals are a hit in the Indian market.

5-26-2009 @ 7:06PM

nilchak said...

I have tried the McD Indian stuff - and they have a greater variety than the American fare - and they taste better (notwishthstanding my own Indian palate) - nore so because of the fine spices they use in the Indian ones - the Tikka and Panner ones are really delicious.

Compared to that I avoid the American McD stuff like plague - its so staid and devoid of variety - and I do have the pork and Chicken stuff as well. and McD in India is all the rage ...

5-26-2009 @ 11:45PM

Ashish said...

Also, in India, its fast food but not necessarily prepared fast. Most McD's are sit-in diner style, not really drive thru's. The food is more delicately prepared unlike in the US where things are just slapped together randomly, however, randomly to get rid of the customer. It's not just McD but most fast food chains, the food just isn't delicately prepared or served in the interest of time.