Hinduism and McDonalds

This cow can sleep easy!

• McDonald's in India is a locally owned and managed company run by Indians, employing local staff, procures from local suppliers to serve its customers. McDonald's India opened its first family restaurant at Basant Lok in Oct, 1996; today it has 132 Restaurants across India

How would you describe the Indian owners of a McDonalds?

• McDonald’s has developed a menu especially for India with vegetarian selections to suit Indian tastes and cultural / religious preferences.

• McDonald's does not offer any beef or pork items in India.

• In the last decade it has introduced some vegetarian and non-vegetarian products with local flavors that have appealed to the Indian palate.

• Only pure vegetarian oil is used as a cooking medium.

• Cheese and sauces are completely vegetarian and egg less.

• Separation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food products is maintained throughout the various stages of procurement, cooking and serving.

• McAloo Tikki™

Potatoes (aloo in Hindi) are a popular filling food item in India. McDonald's in India's McAloo Tikki ™ sandwich includes a patty made out of potatoes, peas, and spices. It also includes tomato slices, onions, and vegetarian mayonnaise.

75% of the McDonald's menu in India is Indianised. In 2001, McDonald's also introduced the Veg Surprise burger, a veggie burger with Indian spices. Not surprisingly, sales volume shot up 40%.

• Enter the 'Maharaja Mac'. A 100% ground lamb burger served with lettuce, tomatoes, special sauce, cheese, onion and pickles on a sesame bun.

Who are the owners?

How would you describe these men?

• Liberal, moderate or Fundamental?

• Capitalists?• Supporters of

Westernisation of India?

• What worldview would they be most influenced by?

McDonald's in India is a Joint-Venture (JV) partnership run by Indians. Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. managed by Mr. Vikram Bakshi in the Northern & Eastern region and another with Hard Castle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. managed by Mr. Amit Jatia in the Western & Southern Region.

Indian political activists are always eager to protest again so-called "cultural imperialism". And foreign-based fast food chains are easy targets.

India is the only country in the world where McDonald's does not offer beef. With 140m Indian Muslims, pork is off the menu, too

What is the relationship between the liberal Hindu owners and fundamentalist Hindu groups?

Read article in Society and Culture text

• After an ambitious start in the late 1990s, KFC scaled back its expansion plans after major protests. KFC was also accused of using illegally high amounts of MSG and frying its chicken in pork fat (India's 150 million Muslims don't eat pork). Activist groups protested outside the restaurant in Bangalore, holding placards reading "Quit India" and "Stop Playing Foul". KFC now has less than 20 restaurants in India.

There are other examples of MNC’s trying to influence hindu society…

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