Western fast-food chains flocking to India

McDonald's made its name serving up hamburgers fast, but it took the world's biggest hamburger chain four years to enter India - without its signature dish.

A number of fast-food and cafe chains - Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts to name just two - that are flocking to India would do well to take away lessons learned by established rivals such as McDonald's in navigating a market beset with obstacles.

Industry experts say patience and flexibility in a country where dietary traditions rule may well define successful global restaurant brands in India.

The stakes are high, with India's quick-service restaurant market worth $13 billion and growing roughly 25-30 percent a year, according to Euromonitor and market research firm RNCOS.

India's entire food-service market is estimated at $64 billion.

Text: Nandita Bose and Neha Singh, Reuters

Image: One pound bags of Dunkin' Donuts Original Blend coffee are on display at a Dunkin' Donuts store in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.

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