Source : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/food/quick-service-eateries-in-india-change-with-the-times/articleshow/87531112

McDonald’s has started serving customers at its tables – in addition to its traditional self-service model – in about 80 outlets in the western and southern parts of India and plans to extend that service to all its restaurants
in the region in the next two years.

KFC and Pizza Hut are shrinking their store sizes to almost half as they go deep into neighbourhoods and the “tighter” outlets are designed to cater to and boost deliveries to consumers in the high-rise buildings around them. The pandemic is prompting quick service restaurants (QSRs) to undergo major changes to their operations and
strategies – from stores closer to the consumers to delivery-centric outlets.

Amit Jatia, vice-chairman of Westlife Development that operates McDonald’s business in western and southern India, said customers have taken to digital commerce in a big way during the pandemic and are looking for convenience everywhere.
“Have you heard of any QSR business that does table service? No. That issomething we are redefi ning. The idea in the next two years is to get prettymuch 100% of our restaurants converted into an experience of the futurerestaurant,” Jatia said. “The reason is evolution. The world is going digital. It isall driven around convenience. So, the consumer is looking for better and moreconvenient ways to use everything – better payment systems, more seamless,one touch ordering. Everything has to be at the drop of the hat – quick,seamless and simple.”

Last year and earlier this year, when consumers generally avoided restaurants and malls amid rising coronavirus cases, most QSR stores survived by delivering fast foods from their outlets. For example, Sapphire Foods, that operates about 500 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell chain stores in India, said its delivery business doubled to 42% in the last 18 months.