Unit 5 Indiviual Project Essay

Running head: MCDONALD’S AND BURGER KING IN CHINA AND INDIA

MCDONALD’S AND BURGER KING

IN CHINA AND INDIA

ALICE KAY BURGDORF

AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNVERSITY

ABSTRACT:

Over the last several years, the fast-food giants McDonald’s and Burger King have expanded their services beyond the United States and are now implementing stores in Asia, especially in China and India, due to the ever-expanding economies of these two Asian nations. However, the U>S>-based management at both McDonald’s and Burger King have found it necessary to make some radical changes to their menus in order to accommodate specific cultural and social differences in these two burgeoning nations. The basic problem appears to be related to cultural preferences and/or taboos when it comes to food, such as a high preference for vegetable-based food items in China, and the Indian objection (based solely on religion) for food items containing beef

McDonald’s and Burger King in China and India:

A Comparison/Contrast

In today’s highly competitive fast-food market, two firms stand above all others—McDonald’s and Burger King, both of which have long retail histories in the United States, dating back to the mid to late 1950;s, and can boast of having served, as the old McDonald’s slogan goes, “billions and billions” of burgers, French fries, and other types of fast-food items. The success of these two fast-food giants is obvious, for they now have restaurants spread across the globe, ranging from their home base in the United States to Europe, South America, Africa, and even Australia. But recently, those responsible for managing the overall business success of McDonald’s and Burger King have decided to spread their services even further, for there are now plans to expand into the heart of Asia with China and India as the main targets of this expansion. However, due to specific cultural and social conditions in these two nations, McDonald’s and Burger King now face a difficult decision...