McDonald’s India, through its franchise Westlife Foodworld, has launched burgers featuring multi-millet buns, co-created with CSIR-CFTRI. This health-conscious initiative aims to improve the nutritional value of McDonald’s offerings and will be available at 400 outlets across West and South India for an additional ₹10.
New Delhi: McDonald’s India, which operates in the West and South regions through its franchise partner Westlife Foodworld, has announced the introduction of burgers made with multi-millet buns. This innovation has been co-developed with the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), a premier food technology body under India’s Ministry of Science & Technology. The initiative is part of McDonald’s strategy to enhance the nutritional profile of its menu.
The multi-millet bun, which contains a blend of five millets—Bajra, Ragi, Jowar, Proso, and Kodo—will be available at all 400 McDonald’s outlets across West and South India, with a ₹10 upgrade. According to Akshay Jatia, Executive Director at McDonald’s India, this collaboration marks a first in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) space, combining CSIR-CFTRI’s food science expertise with McDonald’s commitment to providing nutritious yet delicious food options.
CSIR-CFTRI Director, Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “This is a crucial step toward creating menu items that enhance both nutrition and taste. By combining CFTRI’s cutting-edge research with McDonald’s operational strengths, we’re pioneering a new era in food innovation.”
The multi-millet buns are being sourced directly from 5,000 farmers across seven Indian states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, under a farm-to-fork model. This partnership reflects McDonald’s ongoing efforts to integrate traditional, locally sourced ingredients into its offerings.
This launch follows a challenging June quarter for Westlife Foodworld, which saw a 88.72% drop in consolidated net profit to ₹3.25 crore, due to subdued in-store business and rising royalty costs. However, McDonald’s India continues to operate 403 restaurants in the region, with its focus now shifting to innovation in nutrition.