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Mid · 31-07-2008, 03:59 PM

McDonald's on a roll with expansion
By Nitida Asawanipont
The Nation
Published on July 31, 2008

McThai, operator of McDonald's restaurants in Thailand, plans aggressive expansion and marketing in the second half of the year, following impressive sales growth in the first six months.

It will open 1720 new branches nationwide in the second half. Ten of them will have drivethrough service, allowing customers to order and take delivery of food in their cars. The rest will be ordinary branches.

CEO Hester Chew said the drivethrough branches would cost about Bt25 million each and the others between Bt13 million and Bt15 million. McThai opened only two new McDonald's branches in the first half.

The company expects a recently launched marketing campaign, timed to coincide with the Beijing Olympics, to boost sales 20 per cent.

Yesterday, it launched a new menu item called Fish 'n' Fries, and the company plans to spend Bt20 million on a marketing promotion called "Rak Krai Hai Kin Pla", which will run through August and September. The new Fish 'n' Fries is a temporary addition to McDonald's two permanent fishburger products and expected to help double its sales of fish burgers.

The expansion and marketing plans follow doubledigit sales growth for McDonald's during the first half, while the rest of the quickservicerestaurant market experienced flat growth.

The major factors contributing to the performance were the addition of new menu items, opening of new McCafe branches, renovation of 14 existing branches, introduction of 24hour delivery and extension of opening hours at many branches to 24 hours, Chew said.

Of total sales, hamburgers contribute 60 per cent, while the rest comes from other food and beverages.

The recent move by McDonald's competitor KFC to market its hamburger products actively after a decade of quiet sales does not worry Chew. He said the competitor's new burgermenu advertisements had helped his firm, because they reminded customers of McDonald's. KFC's entry into hamburger competition may also stimulate the entire market, he said.

nationmultimedia.com

good2bhappy · 31-07-2008, 04:05 PM

The last time I had a McDonalds was in Lahore
Puris and chicken tikka, damn good!
A burger is not really my thing, but if their main menu reflected the Thai diet I might try it

melvbot · 31-07-2008, 04:23 PM

The only good thing about Maccy D's is breakfast McMuffins. The rest is shite i wouldnt feed to a dog let alone my kids.

Thormaturge · 31-07-2008, 04:23 PM

I called into a McCafe in Central World recently.

"Hot chocolate please"

"Ten minutes"

"I can get one from Starbucks quicker"

"OK"

I am still unsure as to why it would take ten minutes to make a hot chocolate.

chitown · 31-07-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melvbot

The only good thing about Maccy D's is breakfast McMuffins. The rest is shite i wouldnt feed to a dog let alone my kids.

If Thailand only had breakfast McMuffins. They put the breakfast stuff on a hamburger bun and call it a sausage burgaaaa

melvbot · 31-07-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chitown

Quote:

Originally Posted by melvbot

The only good thing about Maccy D's is breakfast McMuffins. The rest is shite i wouldnt feed to a dog let alone my kids.

If Thailand only had breakfast McMuffins. They put the breakfast stuff on a hamburger bun and call it a sausage burgaaaa

Might be different than the US but Im sure Ive had Mcmuffins here that are the same as the UK only about 1/3 the size.

Texpat · 31-07-2008, 04:47 PM

McDonald's often (always?) has menu items that reflect local tastes.
In Japan they have a full McChow menu -- chinese eggrolls and dim sum stuff. They also had a dreadful rice burger -- like chewing on a cardboard box.

Say what you like about McDonald's, they're making money hand over fist and growing fast. I haven't eaten at a Micky D's in almost two years.

Fabian · 01-08-2008, 05:39 PM

1,720 new branches in six months? Is that a typo?

Norton · 01-08-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melvbot

Might be different than the US but Im sure Ive had Mcmuffins here that are the same as the UK only about 1/3 the size.

The Thai offering has been downsized. Primarily to reduce cost to fit market here. Burger King has not downsized portions and higher prices than Mac reflect it.

peterpan · 01-08-2008, 06:07 PM

Thanks be to Allah there is no Mcshit in Udon yet, still time will cure that. Enjoy the slim issarn beauties while you can, the next generation with have the two axe handle wide arses. I tell my kids McDonald is made up of ground up cow heads, serves the purpose for now as they almost run past the one in pattaya.

Loy Toy · 01-08-2008, 06:08 PM

Very interesting that TV documentory they done whereby they took a very fit man in the prime of his life and nearly killed him by way of a McDonalds diet.

Why in the world would you want to eat that shit. KFC is far better.

Finger Lickin Gook

I also like the breakfast sausage McMuffins. The only thing worth eating on their menu IMO.

kingwilly · 01-08-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Very interesting that TV documentory they done whereby they took a very fit man in the prime of his life and nearly killed him by way of a McDonalds diet.

I think you mean supersize me.

and it was somewhat OTT

buriramboy · 01-08-2008, 06:18 PM

It should read 17-20 not 1720, Mcdonalds only has around 100 branches in the whole of Thailand.

Mid · 01-08-2008, 06:39 PM

hummn , that changes things somewhat ..........

Norton · 01-08-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mid

hummn , that changes things somewhat ..........

Yep, doubt the moo baans are going to have any soon. Tex will be devastated!

Thormaturge · 01-08-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fabian

1,720 new branches in six months? Is that a typo?

No that figure is just for Sukhumvit road.

Norton · 01-08-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

No that figure is just for Sukhumvit road.

One next to every 7/11.

31-07-2008, 03:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mid Nautical Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,939	comming soon to a moo baan near you .............. McDonald's on a roll with expansion By Nitida Asawanipont The Nation Published on July 31, 2008 McThai, operator of McDonald's restaurants in Thailand, plans aggressive expansion and marketing in the second half of the year, following impressive sales growth in the first six months. It will open 1720 new branches nationwide in the second half. Ten of them will have drivethrough service, allowing customers to order and take delivery of food in their cars. The rest will be ordinary branches. CEO Hester Chew said the drivethrough branches would cost about Bt25 million each and the others between Bt13 million and Bt15 million. McThai opened only two new McDonald's branches in the first half. The company expects a recently launched marketing campaign, timed to coincide with the Beijing Olympics, to boost sales 20 per cent. Yesterday, it launched a new menu item called Fish 'n' Fries, and the company plans to spend Bt20 million on a marketing promotion called "Rak Krai Hai Kin Pla", which will run through August and September. The new Fish 'n' Fries is a temporary addition to McDonald's two permanent fishburger products and expected to help double its sales of fish burgers. The expansion and marketing plans follow doubledigit sales growth for McDonald's during the first half, while the rest of the quickservicerestaurant market experienced flat growth. The major factors contributing to the performance were the addition of new menu items, opening of new McCafe branches, renovation of 14 existing branches, introduction of 24hour delivery and extension of opening hours at many branches to 24 hours, Chew said. Of total sales, hamburgers contribute 60 per cent, while the rest comes from other food and beverages. The recent move by McDonald's competitor KFC to market its hamburger products actively after a decade of quiet sales does not worry Chew. He said the competitor's new burgermenu advertisements had helped his firm, because they reminded customers of McDonald's. KFC's entry into hamburger competition may also stimulate the entire market, he said. nationmultimedia.com __________________ "Keeping quiet while monks and other peaceful protesters are murdered and jailed is not evidence of constructive engagement." - Arvind Ganesan, Human Rights Watch. "I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check" - M.C. Escher

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31-07-2008, 04:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
good2bhappy Senior Member Last Online: Today 11:03 AM Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Klong Samwa Posts: 5,336	The last time I had a McDonalds was in Lahore Puris and chicken tikka, damn good! A burger is not really my thing, but if their main menu reflected the Thai diet I might try it

31-07-2008, 04:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
melvbot Metal Member Last Online: Today 10:12 AM Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sailing The Seas Of Cheese Posts: 2,677	The only good thing about Maccy D's is breakfast McMuffins. The rest is shite i wouldnt feed to a dog let alone my kids.

31-07-2008, 04:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Thormaturge Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thailand Posts: 2,196	I called into a McCafe in Central World recently. "Hot chocolate please" "Ten minutes" "I can get one from Starbucks quicker" "OK" I am still unsure as to why it would take ten minutes to make a hot chocolate.

31-07-2008, 04:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Texpat ฝรั่งพูดมาก Last Online: Yesterday 01:21 PM Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nong Khai Posts: 9,788	McDonald's often (always?) has menu items that reflect local tastes. In Japan they have a full McChow menu -- chinese eggrolls and dim sum stuff. They also had a dreadful rice burger -- like chewing on a cardboard box. Say what you like about McDonald's, they're making money hand over fist and growing fast. I haven't eaten at a Micky D's in almost two years.

01-08-2008, 05:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Fabian Elite Member Last Online: Today 01:10 AM Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hamburg, cold dark Germany Posts: 3,897	1,720 new branches in six months? Is that a typo?

01-08-2008, 06:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
peterpan Limp member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pleasantville Posts: 4,607	Thanks be to Allah there is no Mcshit in Udon yet, still time will cure that. Enjoy the slim issarn beauties while you can, the next generation with have the two axe handle wide arses. I tell my kids McDonald is made up of ground up cow heads, serves the purpose for now as they almost run past the one in pattaya.

01-08-2008, 06:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
Loy Toy Elite Member Last Online: Today 10:44 AM Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3,006	Very interesting that TV documentory they done whereby they took a very fit man in the prime of his life and nearly killed him by way of a McDonalds diet. Why in the world would you want to eat that shit. KFC is far better. Finger Lickin Gook I also like the breakfast sausage McMuffins. The only thing worth eating on their menu IMO.

01-08-2008, 06:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
buriramboy Elite Member Last Online: Today 09:49 AM Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nern Plub Waan Posts: 1,951	It should read 17-20 not 1720, Mcdonalds only has around 100 branches in the whole of Thailand.

01-08-2008, 06:39 PM	#14 (permalink)
Mid Nautical Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,939	hummn , that changes things somewhat ..........

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