Westlife Foodworld Takes Steps to Ease the Burden of Rising Prices

As living costs rise, many consumers tend to reduce spending on hotels and restaurants and look for affordable dining options. India’s retail inflation increased from 4.83% in August to 5.54% in September, while food inflation rose from 5.97% to 7.74%. Against this backdrop, Westlife Foodworld, which operates McDonald’s restaurants across western and southern India, is focusing on offering meals at affordable prices. The company has introduced meals priced at ₹99 to attract budget-conscious customers. Westlife Foodworld CEO Akshay Jatia said McDonald’s continues to provide value for money despite challenging market conditions. He added that the company aims to offer quality food at reasonable prices without making steep price cuts or frequent increases.

Westlife Foodworld recorded encouraging growth in the September quarter. Its revenue increased by 16% year on year to ₹747 crore, while same-store sales grew by 10%. The company also reported double-digit monthly growth in customer numbers. Sales from customers dining inside restaurants increased by 17%, while takeaway and other off-premise sales rose by 15%. These figures indicate that McDonald’s continues to attract customers despite rising food prices and pressure on household budgets. By focusing on affordability and customer experience, the company is seeking to sustain its growth while responding to changing consumer spending patterns.

Westlife began its affordable meal strategy last year, initially testing the ₹99 offering in western India before expanding it to southern India. The initiative is intended to attract new customers and encourage existing customers to visit restaurants more frequently. During a company meeting in October, Managing Director Saurabh Kalra said Westlife had strengthened its value-meal strategy without increasing discounts compared with previous quarters. He also noted that the company had managed rising costs by reducing discounts in certain cases. With inflation continuing to affect consumer spending, Westlife is relying on affordable meal options and tighter cost management to maintain customer interest and support business growth.