Tag: McDonald

  • Animeta rolls camera on AI Film Studio to redefine storytelling in digital age

    Animeta rolls camera on AI Film Studio to redefine storytelling in digital age

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, algorithm. Animeta, the Singapore-based creator tech company, has launched its brand-new vertical, Animeta AI Film Studio, in Mumbai, promising to shake up the way stories are told on screen.

    Billed as a first-of-its-kind hybrid studio, the venture combines human creativity with cutting-edge AI tools to deliver everything from slick promotional clips to full-length films. The aim is to help filmmakers, brands and creators merge original scripts, music and voiceovers with AI-driven visuals that preserve artistic intent while speeding up production.

    The studio is powered by Animeta’s patent-pending AI model and bolstered by its participation in Google Cloud’s startup programme, giving it access to Vertex AI’s veo3 video generation model along with copyright indemnity on content created through the platform.

    “For two decades, I have reimagined storytelling through animation. Now our AI Film Studio is here to push those boundaries further,” said Animeta founder Anish Mehta. “By blending creativity with AI, we are empowering storytellers to scale their vision faster, smarter and with greater confidence.”

    The new division builds on Animeta’s strengths in computer vision, natural language processing, video encoding and large language models. It also draws from the company’s experience producing award-winning influencer-led content for global names like Amazon, Starbucks, L’oréal, Tata Group and Mcdonald’s, powered by its tech platform Animeta Brandstar and a creator network of more than 400,000.

    With this launch, Animeta hopes to give creators a futuristic canvas where imagination meets innovation, ensuring that storytelling not only keeps pace with the digital era but stays one step ahead.

    Because in today’s content-hungry world, the future of film might just be part human, part machine, and all story.

  • Social Panga paints bold future with Soumabha Nandi as creative strategy EVP

    Social Panga paints bold future with Soumabha Nandi as creative strategy EVP

    MUMBAI: Social Panga has added a fresh stroke of creativity to its canvas with the appointment of Soumabha Nandi as executive vice president for creative strategy & growth. This strategic move is set to elevate the agency’s storytelling game, blending innovation with business impact as it continues its expansion spree.

    Som shared, “Social Panga’s people-first approach and hunger for the new really resonated with me. With evolving markets and breakthrough technologies, this is exactly the kind of creative playground that fuels me. I look forward to pushing boundaries and making an impact.”

    Social Panga co-founder Himanshu Arora said, “His expertise in creative strategy and business impact aligns perfectly with our vision. As we continue pushing creative boundaries, Som’s leadership will be instrumental in our next growth phase.”

    Social Panga co-founder Gaurav Arora added, “At Social Panga, creativity and strategy go hand in hand. Som’s ability to fuse big ideas with data-driven insights will elevate our client relationships and inspire our team to deliver exceptional work.”

    Bringing over 13 years of brand transformation expertise, Som (as he is popularly known) has crafted narratives for industry giants like Flipkart, Disney plus Hotstar, Max Fashion, Phonepe, Mcdonald’s, Domino’s, and more. At Social Panga, he will steer the creative vision, drive new business, and foster a culture where bold ideas turn into tangible results.

  • McDonald’s India partners with Illumination to bring Minions

    McDonald’s India partners with Illumination to bring Minions

    Mumbai:  Fans of the beloved Minions are in for a delicious treat as McDonald’s India – North & East in partnership with Universal Pictures is getting ready to welcome Minions to its restaurants. McDonald’s customers of all ages will witness an unforgettable experience with exciting menu items and meal options available in Minion-themed packaging. In addition, McDonald’s will transform select restaurants into Minion havens and invite Minion’s mascot for fun-filled customer engagements.

    The new minionised meal options will include:

    Choco Caramel McFlurry – Delicious blend of creamy vanilla soft serve with rich chocolate and caramel swirls with Oreo topping.

    Chicken McNuggets (4-pcs) launched at Rs 99 Exclusive pack with 2 New Dips – Classic McNuggets just got better with the introduction of two new dipping sauces: the zesty Manchurian dip and the sweet yet spicy Sweet Chilli dip.

    Mega Minion Surprise Meal (4 pcs) – A fun and delightful experience with our Veg and Chicken Surprise 4-course meal that promises to surprise and satisfy your taste buds. The meal includes a surprise burger of your choice, 1 Regular Fries, 1 regular Beverage & Pizza McPuff.

    Happy Meal- With Happy Meals, customers will receive a special edition Despicable Me 4 book and Minion-themed headband. Happy Meal customers will get access to various games and fun activities by scanning the QR code available on the HM box.

    Minions theme decoration at select restaurants:

    To celebrate the Minions invasion, McDonald’s restaurants will undergo a quirky transformation with Minion-themed decor, creating a fun and immersive environment for all guests. Also, special appearances by Minion mascots will spread joy and photo opportunities for fans.  

    Commenting on the launch, McDonald’s India – North and East managing director Rajeev Ranjan said, “McDonald’s has always been a happy place for families, and we are always looking for new ways to create joyful and memorable experiences for our customers. We are incredibly excited to bring the world of the Minions to our customers. We eagerly wait to see broader smiles on the faces of our young guests and their families as they relish these limited-edition meals while engaging in the fun activities.”

    Customers can experience the Minions celebrations until August 1, 2024, across all McDonald’s restaurants in North and East India. 

  • McDonald’s and Accenture expand tech partnership for enhanced experiences

    McDonald’s and Accenture expand tech partnership for enhanced experiences

    Mumbai: McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) and Accenture (NYSE: ACN) announced an expansion of their strategic partnership to help execute McDonald’s strategy to leverage the latest edge technology and apply generative AI solutions across its restaurants worldwide to improve operations as well as customer and crew experience. Through this work, McDonald’s also will enhance the digital capabilities of its employees.

    This partnership will help support McDonald’s technology strategy which aims to leverage scale and unlock greater speed and efficiency for customers, restaurant teams, and employees. This includes the acceleration of automation innovation from equipment manufacturers, allowing restaurant general managers to quickly spot and enact solutions to reduce business disruptions, ultimately reducing complexity for restaurant crew and leading to customer benefits such as hotter, fresher food.

    This phase of innovation is also designed to build an even stronger technology team at McDonald’s. Accenture will help train and support McDonald’s global workforce by using Accenture’s learning and development programs, online training courses and boot camps for emerging talent to ensure the workforce has the AI, data and edge computing skills needed in the digital era.

    McDonald’s executive vice president and global chief information officer Brian Rice said, “In order to unlock the opportunity in our ongoing digital investments, we chose Accenture, our long-time partner who has helped us build our digital foundation, to work with us on this next phase of innovation. Accenture’s deep understanding of our business, our industry, and of course technology, will allow us to leverage the full potential of the cloud and generative AI solutions by implementing advanced practices to quickly leverage those technologies as well as to nurture and empower the talent within our organization. Lifelong learning and digital upskilling are at the heart of our culture and long-term growth plans – and embedding this across our workforce will enable greater business agility and performance.”

    Accenture chair and CEO Julie Sweet said, “We are incredibly proud to continue to partner with McDonald’s as they reinvent the customer experience, stay ahead of their customers’ changing needs and reimagine what a restaurant can be. This new work will be a leading example across industries of innovating with tech data and AI at the core, across the cloud continuum, all the way to the edge. And doing so in a way that keeps their people in the forefront, building the skills they need to meet and delight their customers in new ways every day.”

  • McDonald’s India North and East taps into festive snacking occasions with the new range of value wraps

    McDonald’s India North and East taps into festive snacking occasions with the new range of value wraps

    Mumbai: McDonald’s India North and East’s new heart-warming video captures the essence of Diwali with a twist. Titled “Celebrating #ForyourotherDiwali” the film showcases the joy of celebrating the festival of lights in a unique way, with the all-new special Wraps, the perfect on-the-go snacking option.

    Talking about the launch of the campaign and the special Wraps, McDonald’s India – North and East managing director Rajeev Ranjan said, “Our festivals are a time of togetherness, laughter & bonding. At McDonald’s India North & East we understand the importance of Feel-good delicious memorable moments created during these occasions. Apart from usual grandeur of lights and Rangolis, the peacefulness of a traditional puja, intimate gathering with family and friends, there are many other unique ways, our customers create times of togetherness and celebrate those moments during Diwali. Our new film built on this insight featuring the launch of value wraps, Available for a limited time only, is calling everyone to embrace their own unique way of celebrating Diwali. We are hopeful of this resonating well with our customers”

    Conceptualised by DDB Mudra Group, North, the film opens in a Delhi neighbourhood colony on Diwali night. Two teenage friends arrive on the scene, a McDonald’s bag in their hands, clearly looking for someone. They are being guided by a third friend over the phone towards a basket hanging by a rope. They load the bag in the basket, and it rises towards the building’s roof, being pulled up by their friend. We now see that he is on a special meeting with a girl on terrace. As the couple enjoys their McDonald’s wraps, a tender moment unfolds between them under the velvet sky, punctuated by sparkling fireworks. The perfect setting for an Other Diwali moment celebrated with McDonald’s Value Wraps.

    Introduced for a limited period, the special wraps consisting of three different variants, make an excellent selection for anyone seeking a flavoursome snack or meal during the festival season. These festive period wraps would be offered ala-carte and in meals in select McDonald’s outlets in the North and East regions, as well as through Delivery partners, takeout, and drive-thru. The wraps would be Available in three options McAloo Wrap, McEgg Wrap, and Tandoori Chicken Wrap are priced at an attractive price point of Rs 79 & above 

  • McDonald’s India- north & east appoints new leadership team

    McDonald’s India- north & east appoints new leadership team

    MUMBAI: McDonald’s India- north & east on Tuesday appointed Rajeev Ranjan as chief operating officer and Rajeev Goel as chief financial officer of the company. Both will step into their respective roles with immediate effect, following the retirement of Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd (CPRL) head Robert Hunghanfoo a statement said.

    They would report to CPRL chairman and developmental licensee Sanjeev Agrawal.

    Ranjan, who is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in FMCG and the food and beverage industry, has been tasked with leading McDonald’s restaurant operations, marketing, supply chain and quality assurance and Information Technology in the north and east region.

    “With his experience in building high-performing teams and delivering growth, he will also take a central role in aligning employee processes and systems to match company’s plans while driving growth in the core business and strengthening the brand’s reputation,” the company said in a press release.

    Meanwhile, Goel will lead the financial strategy, development and legal activities, restaurant modernisation and expansion to support sustainable, long-term growth for McDonald’s brand in the north and east region.

    McDonald’s restaurants in north and east of India are operated by CPRL, which has the licence for the region.

  • McDonald’s India paves the way for the new dining experience in the post Covid2019 world

    McDonald’s India paves the way for the new dining experience in the post Covid2019 world

    MUMBAI: As the country gears up to come out of the two-month long Covid2019-led lockdown, Westlife Development, the company that owns and operates McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India, is all set to open its doors for its customers once again. The company has led the way for the industry by implementinga 42-pointer checklist across its dine-in, delivery and take-out services, to ensure that its employees and customers are safe every step of the way. So now, you can be rest assured while indulging in your craving for the juiciest burgers and fries in town, while McDonald’s focuses on giving you a safe, hygienic and delightful dining experience. 

    Westlife Development Limited director Smita Jatia said, “We have been extremely cognizant of the anxieties and concerns of our customers and employees through the ongoing health crisis, and their safety has been our top-most priority. In the last two months, we have closely watched the evolving situation and have constantly taken learnings from other markets that are closer to the cycle of recovery, to ensure we are able to deliver a reassuring and safe experience. Our new restaurant experience has been created with utmost care to ensure that our customers and employees remain safe at every step.”
    The QSR giant has leveraged technology in a big way to create a safe environment for its employees and customers – right from enabling contact-less dine-in and take-out for customers to training each member of their crew working across their 315 outlets on hygiene best-practices, to being able to trace all ingredients right to their source. 

    “Over the years, we have invested significantly to weave technology across our business and in these challenging times we have been able to leverage our strong digital backbone to enable convenience and safety for our customers.” Smita Jatia added.

    What’s new in the McDonald’s restaurants?

    To give you a safe and comfortable dining experience, McDonald’s India has created a restaurant that takes care of even the smallest of hygiene factors.  Additional safety processes have been added to the already stringent ones, which include thermal screening for all employees and customers along with ensuring social distancing every step of the way. So, the next time you visit a McDonald’s outlet, you will see various social distancing markings in front of the self-ordering kiosks, front counter and washrooms, along with alternate table and chair seating arrangements in the dining area.

    In addition to the above, customers and employees in the restaurant premises will have access to hand sanitizers at all touchpoints and crew members will always be seen wearing protective gears including masks and gloves. Moreover, in accordance with the government mandate, all staff members will mandatorily have the Aarogya Setu app on their phones.

    To ensure the highest standards of food preparation and handling, the QSR giant is making sure that the food is prepared freshly once the order is placed and served in a contactless manner, untouched by bare hands.

    In addition to this, the restaurant leadership team is undergoing all mandated trainings on health and hygiene modules, conducted by FSSAI while each crew member is receiving specialized training on precautionary measures against Covid2019.

    McDonald’s is also ensuring increased sanitization checks at the supplier’s end to ascertain food safety from farm to plates. The brand already boasts of 100 per cent traceability of all ingredients used in their food right to their source.

    All McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India will be starting operation of dine-in, take-out and delivery services in a phased manner, in compliance with the local government regulations.

    Here is the 42-point checklist that McDonald’s India West and South is following across its operations

    For All Crew Members
    1.    Thermal screening before the start of shifts
    2.    Regular and thorough hand washingfor 20 seconds
    3.    Adequate social distancing in all areas within the restaurant and kitchens
    4.    Protective gear worn by all including masks and gloves 
    5.    AarogyaSetu app downloaded on the phones
    6.    Mandatory FSSAI and McDonald’s trainings on prevention against Covid2019

    For Entrance Area
    7.    Regular sanitization of door handles
    8.    Mandatory temperature checkand hand sanitizers for customers before entering the restaurants
    9.    Designated social distancing markings for all customers at self-ordering kiosks, front counter, takeaway window and McCafé counter 

    For Kitchen Area & Food related Hygiene
    10.    ‘Single use only’ policy to maintain food packaging hygiene and safe handling of condiments, tissues, stirrers etc.
    11.    Ensuring highest food preparation standards with extra attention to food hygiene including source tracking, kitchen sanitization and regular food safety audits
    12.    Sanitization of all kitchen equipment every four hours
    13.    Preparing and serving food without touching it with bare hands
    14.    Maintaining separate kitchens, equipment, utensils,and cleaning cloths for veg and non-veg food,as always

    For ordering & payment area
    15.    Sanitization of self-ordering kiosks after every use
    16.    Option of contactless ordering through digital menu cards sent on WhatsApp or through QR codes 

    19.    Alternate table and chair seating arrangementto ensure social distancing while dining
    20.    Sanitization of all tables and chairs after every use
    21.    Sanitization ofall table trackers after every use
    22.    Sanitization ofall trash cans at regular intervals
    23.    Sanitization ofall food trays after every use
    24.    Availability of hand sanitizers at all customer touchpoints, and in the dining area upon request
    25.    Sanitization ofwashrooms every 30 minutes

    For Ordering & Pickup Counter
    27.    Availability of contactlesstake-out to ensure zero-contact food pick-up
    28.    Packing and handing over food to customers in a completely contactless manner at the takeaway and drive-thru counter
    29.    Option of contactless and cashless payments available at ordering area, takeaway counters and drive-thru through UPI or Tap n Pay option

    For Delivery process
    30.    Social distancing markings at the delivery window for riders 
    31.    Sanitization ofdelivery bag before the rider uses it
    32.    Ensuring contactless home deliveries
    33.    Sealing all delivery bags with tape with the bill stuck on the back of the bag for both McDelivery service and third-party orders 

    At Supplier’s End
    34.    Disinfection of trucks carrying goods before entering the premises
    35.    Mandatory hand-wash and sanitization across multiple touch-points
    36.    Temperature checks for all employees and visitors coming to the factory premises
    37.    Social distancing markings for all employees handling food in the kitchens
    38.    Full-cover body suits worn by all employees and visitorsat the premises of select suppliers
    39.    Changing and disposing of PPE equipment as per guidelines
    40.    Disabling of bio-metric based attendance to avoid cross-contamination
    41.    Storing records of health and travel historyof all employees and visitors
    42.    Regular assessment of suppliers and their food to ensure complete safety

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  • [Podcast] Media Minds: McDonald’s India West & South to improve focus on product differentiation, in-app experiences

    [Podcast] Media Minds: McDonald’s India West & South to improve focus on product differentiation, in-app experiences

    MUMBAI: From ‘Happy Meals’ to breakfast meals, McDonald’s has been an integral part of all our lives with its unique product propositions and more than that, great customer experiences. In the latest episode of ‘Media Minds’, we talk to the newly appointed marketing director of Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd, which manages McDonald’s India in South and West Region, Arvind RP, to talk about his plans for the brand.

    Arvind, who has been working in the marketing industry for decades now is excited to be a part of the McDonald’s family and is working hard to improve customer experience in stores and as well as on the newly developed app that has all the qualities to keep a consumer hooked.

    He shares that the brand will continue to launch product differentiations, and communication pieces that get the whole family together, serving reminiscent of good old times to some and offering an opportunity to make their own for others.

    Listen to the complete discussion here:

  • This Independence Day, McDonald’s tells you the story of the #TrulyIndianBurger

    This Independence Day, McDonald’s tells you the story of the #TrulyIndianBurger

    MUMBAI: McDonald’s is often looked at as the quintessential ‘western brand’. This often leads people to assume that the house favourite burgers from McDonald’s India are also ‘western’ in their origin.

    In an attempt to bust this myth and create awareness about the sourcing story and Indian origin of McDonald’s India’s food, this Independence Day, Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. (HRPL), the master franchisee of McDonald’s in West and South India, is telling the fascinating story of the “Truly Indian Burger”. Conceptualized and executed by the 22feet Tribal Worldwide, the ‘Truly Indian Burger’ campaign explains how the McDonald’s burgers are an amalgamation of the best agricultural produce from across India.

    Led by three 15-seconder digital films, the campaign is being further supported by an interactive microsite (best experienced on mobile handsets) which tells the sourcing stories of key ingredients of McDonald’s food products in an engaging way. People visiting restaurants can simply scan the QR Code on the tray-mat to know the sourcing story of their favourite burger. The campaign has cumulatively reached over 1 million people.

    A person sitting at a table

    Description automatically generatedEach time you bite into your favourite McVeggie Burger, aren’t you thrilled to taste the fresh, crunchy lettuce? It’s no ordinary lettuce, but the Iceberg variety which makes its way to your plate from the mountains of the Nilgiris. Fun fact – McDonald’s pioneered lettuce farming in India. There was no locally-grown good-quality lettuce available in India till McDonald’s introduced it into farming in India.

    Click on the tile to watch the video

    The second film- Jalapenos, talk about the burst of flavour every time you bite into the jalapenos in your Maharaja Mac burger. Where do you guess McDonald’s gets those from? Mexico? Spain? Naah! These spicy jalapenos in your burger come from the state of Karnataka. Mind-blowing, isn’t it?

    Click on the tile to watch the video

    What about everyone’s favourite McAloo Tikki? Have you wondered what makes it so special? The delectable burger that’s now a global favourite is made from potatoes grown exclusively for McDonald’s India in the state of Gujarat. And the Whole Wheat Buns, that everyone loves so much, are from Maharashtra! This story has been aptly captured in the campaign’s third film.

    Click on the tile to watch the video

    So, there is a bit of India in every bite of your delicious McDonald’s burger!

    Speaking on the campaign, Arvind RP, Director –Marketing and Communications, HRPL said, “Our goal has always been to only use the best and the freshest ingredients to make the food we serve. To ensure this, over the years, we have invested significantly to bring in global best practices and the latest farming technologies to India that empower our farmers to locally grow and produce world-class ingredients.”

    They say that Unity in Diversity is the true representation of Indian culture. And this Independence Day, McDonald’s India is celebrating the diversity of its ingredients. Because why not! After all, these burgers are as Indian as they get.

  • Events – the ultimate tool for marketers to reach their audience

    Events – the ultimate tool for marketers to reach their audience

    MUMBAI: Events are an effective and economical way for companies to interact directly with their target audience. It is the interactive and personal nature of this medium that exerts a much more noticeable effect on target audiences at an individual level. As an example, a person is far more likely to remember a cricket game he went for where McDonald's happened to be a title sponsor, as opposed to a ten-second advertisement for McDonald's that he saw on YouTube; which he’d probably try and skip anyway. Noticing the raw power of events as a platform to engage with one’s audience, marketers have wisely opted to seriously consider them as the viable tool they are.

    Perhaps two of the biggest reasons for the current interest in events as a marketing tool are the decline in traditional media viewership and the oversaturation of social media platforms with brand messaging. Events in a sense, serve as an easy way for brand managers to enable their communication to break free of the clutter that plagues most other forms of marketing. Here are some of the reasons why marketers choose events as a central component of their integrated marketing strategy:

    Memorability

    Large-scale events are inherently interesting. As a result, they act as magnets for (free) mainstream press coverage and public interest, especially when compared to social media or advertising campaigns, in which excitement is generally restricted to the industry itself. For example, the recent Bryan Adams concert in Mumbai will be remembered and talked about by attendees for years, if not decades to come, but few if any could recall the latest ad campaign by OLX. When a company attaches itself to an event, be it as grand as the IPL, majestic as Beauty and the Beast, or out-of-the-box as the Pro Kabaddi League, it essentially rides on the goodwill and connection that people have to those individual properties.

    Customisability

    Events, just like any other platform of communication, can be customised to match the exact requirements, expectations, and desires of the target audience while simultaneously accommodating the brand’s messaging. For example, MSI, Alienware, and Intel, all regularly organise or associate with gaming tournaments because these types of events attract their target audience; young men who enjoy video games. This rationale holds true for brands across various sectors for as long as a brand is able to craft an experience (or at least tie-up with a property that can that is irresistible to their specific audience.

    Return on investment

    While events do have a comparatively higher cost per view (CPV) from the perspective of a brand when compared to an advertising campaign, the return on investment remains exceptionally competitive given their high recall value. One of the core objectives of marketing is customer engagement, and few if any channels of communication have the ability to generate a profound response from the audience quite like an event. For example, if DC were to set up a kiosk at Comicon, the response they would receive from attendees would be far more interactive than it would be if they spent the very same portion of the marketing budget on a billboard. For this reason, the ROI on event sponsorships should not be discounted.

    Distribution of risks

    Unlike advertisements which can only have a single sponsor, events, typically large ones like sports leagues, film award ceremonies, and music concerts, can have multiple stakeholders. This distributes the costs and allows all parties to benefit from their association with the aforementioned properties. As an example, in the case of an event like the IPL, no single company could ever hope to afford to sponsor the entire tournament. This is why each team has their own set of sponsors, as does the event itself.

    The marketing landscape in India is evolving continuously as brands escape the clutches of conservatism and explore new avenues of reaching consumers. This renaissance has resulted in an equally massive evolution in the quality, quantity, and types of events that are now emerging across India. It would be safe to say that synergy of both industries is guaranteed to produces some absolute masterpieces in the near future.    

    The author is managing director, Dome Entertainment Pvt Ltd. The views expressed here are his own and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them.