McDonald's Pakistan (Urdu: مکڈونلڈز پاکستان) is the Pakistani affiliate of the international fast food chain, McDonald's, owned and operated by SIZA Foods. Its first restaurant was established in Lahore, followed by a second restaurant a week later in Karachi, in September 1998.[4]
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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Genre | Fast food |
| Founded | 19 September 1998 (first restaurant)[1] |
| Headquarters | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, Civil Line, Karachi, Sindh , Pakistan |
Number of locations |  79 (as of 2023[update])[2] |
Area served | Pakistan |
Key people | Amin Lakhani (CEO)[3] |
| Products | |
| Services | Franchising |
| Owner | SIZA Foods (rights licensed from McDonald's Corporation) |
Number of employees | 10,000+ |
| Website | mcdonalds |
McDonald's Pakistan currently operates 79 outlets across 24 major cities nationwide,[2][5] serving millions of customers.[4] Its franchise locations include Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Sukkur, Sheikhupura, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, Sahiwal, Quetta and Jhelum.[6] The largest number of outlets is in Lahore, followed by Karachi and Islamabad-Rawalpindi.[2]
Corporate history
editIn Pakistan, the franchise rights for McDonald's are owned by Siza Foods Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of the Karachi-based Lakson Group of Companies.[3][7][8]
In December 2015, the fast food chain opened doors to its first restaurant in the northwestern city of Peshawar, with a seating capacity of 200.[9] In April 2016, McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Quetta.[10]
In January 2018, McDonald's became a sponsor of the Peshawar Zalmi cricket team and announced a "Peshawar Zalmi Meal" which fans would be able to order at restaurants. Revenues generated from the special meals would be donated to the Peshawar Zalmi Foundation, and spent on uplifting the lives of underprivileged children.[11]
In April 2019, McDonald's and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) inked a memorandum of understanding providing special meals and offers for PIA passengers, which would be printed on their boarding passes and remain valid across all McDonald's outlets nationwide.[12]
In September 2019, McDonald's and Chevron Pakistan announced a strategic partnership, wherein Chevron would satisfy the manufacturing requirements of lubricants and coolants for all of McDonald's Pakistan restaurants.[13]
Products
editAccording to chief executive Amin Lakhani, the options and standard of food at McDonald's Pakistan is at par with McDonald's internationally; consumers eat chicken, beef, fish, hamburger and cheeseburger products, however "we have a range that is slightly spicier because people want spicy food" in Pakistan.[3] In 2011, McDonald's Pakistan received the Golden Arch Award for brand quality, hygiene standards and customer service.[3]
Several of McDonald's former and current products have been influenced by local tastes, and customised to appeal to the Pakistani market.[14] These include the Mutton Burger, first introduced in 2014 for a limited time.[14] In 2017, McDonald's unveiled the Chicken Chapli Burger with a meat patty evidently influenced by the chapli kebab, which was received positively.[14] In March 2019, the McDonald's Bun Kebab was introduced for the first time, a knock-off from the famous Pakistani sandwich and street food known by the same name. According to McDonald's marketing director Raza Ali, adding the Bun Kebab to the menu was an instinctive move considering its extreme popularity in "every nook and corner of Pakistan", and because "a significant proportion of our customers refrain from indulging in a bun kabab due to the unhygienic conditions they are usually made in" typically at dhabas and shops, despite being cheaper than the McDonald's version; thus providing the opportunity to capitalise on both taste and hygiene, something many consumers would be willing to pay a higher price for.[14] Similarly, a McDonald's Lassi was introduced for a limited period to coincide with the fasting month of Ramadan, and was produced in partnership with Nestlé Pakistan.[14]
Gallery
edit-
McDonald's outlet with a PlayPlace in Sargodha -
McDonald's outlet at Gate Square, Peoples Colony, Faisalabad -
McDonald's outlet at the Lahore Junction railway station, c. 2004
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "McDonald's Pakistan". McDonald's Pakistan. 2016. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ a b c "Locate Us". McDonald's Pakistan. 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d Masige, Sharon (9 February 2018). "Leading by example in Pakistan's QSR industry: Amin Lakhani". The CEO Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ a b "McDonald's Pakistan History". McDonald's Pakistan. 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
Today millions of Pakistanis place their trust in McDonald's to provide them with food of a very high standard, quick service and value for money.
- ^ "McDonald's Pakistan: About Us". LinkedIn. 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
There are now 72 restaurants in 24 major cities of Pakistan.
- ^ "McDonald's Pakistan history". McDonald's Pakistan. 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
There are now 44 restaurants in 16 major cities of Pakistan (Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Kala Shah Kaku, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum, Peshawar, Quetta, Sahiwal and Bhera).
- ^ "Board of Directors". Colgate Pakistan. 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
Mr. Amin Mohammed Lakhani is Chief Executive of SIZA Foods (Private) Ltd., the franchise holders of McDonald's restaurants in Pakistan, a world known multinational corporation serving fast foods.
- ^ "Our Team". Lakson Group. 2019. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ Qayyum, Mahwish (29 December 2015). "McDonald's opens its doors to Peshawar". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ Khan, Wajahat S.; Yusufzai, Mushtaq (29 April 2016). "McDonald's Opens in Quetta, Pakistan — Taliban Isn't Lovin' It". NBC News. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Peshawar Zalmi, McDonalds collaborate for human rights and sports". The Express Tribune. 24 January 2018. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "McDonald's Pakistan, PIA take happiness to new heights". Samaa News. 25 April 2019. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "McDonald's & Chevron enter into strategic partnership". Business Recorder. 28 September 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Kamran, Sadia (August 2019). "McDonald's does another desi". Dawn Aurora. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2020.