McDonald’s in India cuts tomatoes from burgers as prices rise
McDonald’s, a major fast food chain present across India, has stopped adding tomatoes to its burgers. Reuters reports that the move aligns with a period of rising vegetable costs in the country. The Delhi government linked the price surge to an unproductive tomato season caused by heavy monsoon rains. Company executives told Reuters that the decision was driven by logistical challenges rather than the cost of ingredients.
Connaught Plaza Restaurants, which runs about 150 McDonald’s outlets in north and east India, described the tomato absence as caused by temporary seasonal issues. Westlife Foodworld, a McDonald’s franchisee with 357 restaurants across western and southern India, said there were no major tomato supply problems, and the impact appeared limited to 10 to 15 percent of its locations. The situation varied by region and by franchise.
In Delhi, tomato ketchup bags remained available in stores, and a nearby Subway location said it continued serving tomatoes without disruption. The inconsistency in tomato supply across the McDonald’s network highlights how global chains adapt to regional supply constraints while continuing to operate in local markets.
McDonald’s has withdrawn from Russia as part of a strategic operation and is not commenting on any plan to return. Reuters notes that representatives of the American brand are communicating with the brand that replaced it, Vkusno — i to je, while emphasizing that these interactions do not contradict sanctions in place at the time.
Earlier coverage explored when price changes might ease in Russia, reflecting how global supply chains and sanctions influence fast food operations far from core markets. The current situation in India illustrates how multinational chains balance menu consistency with regional realities, including weather patterns, agricultural yields, and logistical hurdles, while aiming to maintain customer satisfaction and brand reliability across diverse markets.
Overall, the episode underscores the interplay between global brand standards and local supply chains. It also demonstrates how judgment calls at the franchise level can shape menu offerings, even when core products remain familiar to customers in large cities and smaller towns alike. Observers watch closely to see whether tomato availability returns to normal in the coming months and how the company will adjust its menu in response to continuing price shifts and seasonal variations.