Domino's, Mainland China operators among cos eyeing McDonald's India partnership

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Five companies are keen on partnering with McDonald's even as the spat between Vikram Bakshi's CPRL and the fastfood major continues, reports the Economic Times. 

The five companies eyeing a franchising opportunity with McDonald's are Speciality Restaurants, Jubilant FoodWorks, Moon Beverages, Hardcastle and Lite Bite, sources were quoted as saying.

The companies are well-known for their existing ventures. For instance, Speciality Restaurants runs Mainland China and Oh! Calcutta, while Jubilant FoodWorks runs Domino's Pizza and Dunkin' Donuts. Hardcastle is already running McDonald's franchises in the south and west region, Lite Bite operates Punjab Grill and Moon Beverages is Coca-Cola's Indian franchise bottler.

Three out of the five companies have confirmed the development and said that they will be interested in partnering with the Indian unit of McDonald's. Hardcastle and Jubilant FoodWorks have yet to comment.

Vikram Bakshi-led Connaught Plaza Restaurants Ltd (CPRL), which runs the north and east India operations of McDonald's, has been embroiled in a battle with McDonald's India since 2013. The feud was exacerbated when 46 McDonald's restaurants were shut in New Delhi because the licenses were not renewed.

Later, franchisee agreements with 169 restaurants were terminated across their operating regions. McDonald's India Private Ltd (MIPL) had sent a contract termination notice to the firm and asked them to forego the intellectual properties of the major from September 6. Last week, MIPL had also asked vendors to stop supplying goods to these restaurants as well.