MOSCOW ? Next year, McDonald?s will expand its locations to reach more Russians, Reuters reports. The fast-food chain, which opened its first restaurant in that country 20 years ago, sees plenty of opportunities for growth.
?While 70 percent of our population is not used to eating outside the house, we will have a niche that we should be looking at carefully as there are big opportunities to make these people eat out,? said Khamzat Khasbulatov, CEO of McDonald?s Russia.
McDonald?s will open at least 40 locations in Russia next year. The new outlets will be mostly in the Russian regions, which have fewer fast-food restaurants than St. Petersburg or Moscow.
Other quick-service restaurants are eyeing Russian territory, with Burger King planning to have its first location in Moscow this year, while Subway says it will open around 900 additional locations by 2015, up from its current 78 units. ?We are not afraid of competition. The market is still in the making and one who takes right decisions at the right time will be the leader. We did it 20 years ago,? said Khasbulatov.
?When we saw the first queues that were lining up to our first restaurant in Moscow every day and night all year round, our success was predetermined and all we had to do was to develop as fast as possible,? he said.
Despite the weakened Russian economy, McDonald?s ? with its 70 percent slice of Russia?s fast-food restaurant market ? did not experience too much decline. ?In 2009, we have seen positive dynamics in customer traffic and sales. The average bill was higher than in 2008, although it did not reach what we forecast,? said Khasbulatov.
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