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In a bid to attract the middle class Indian who thinks twice before splurging on a costly meal, quick service restaurants had introduced entry-level prices and value meals for less than Rs 50. However, it didn’t get them much crowd, as a result of which, they are now going premium, so that they can bring in elite food lovers. <br />
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McDonald's India, for example, has pitched itself as a mass-priced brand for over two decades now, but it has now launched its most expensive burger yet, the Maharaja Mac at Rs 145. Similarly, Dunkin' Donuts would soon be launching specialised coffees. Domino's Pizza tied up with celebrity chef Vikas Khanna last year in a bid to introduce European-styled pizzas and snacks which were priced upwards of Rs 250. Starting next month, the US burger chain Wendy's would be adding beer, wine and premium coffee to its Indian menu.<br />
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"QSR was all about operations. Now, it is going back to being restaurants that offer customised and premium products," Jasper Reid, a director of the holding companies of Wendy's and Jamie's Italian in India, told ET.<br />
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As per an internal study which was conducted by McDonald's last year, consumers now prefer products that are 'premium and satiating,’ which is why the world's largest restaurant chain saw a 10% jump from 2012 to 2015 in the premium offerings that it offered to young consumers in India. <br />
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<a href="http://www.mcdonaldsindia.net/maharaja-mac.aspx"><em>Image source</em></a><br />

Quick service restaurants go premium in India, launch costlier products for better sales

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A study conducted by a public interest research and advocacy organisation has come out with shocking results about the bread that you eat in your day to day life, which the results say, may contain certain cancer-causing chemicals.<br />
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For the study, bread samples were collected from Delhi, and the results have prompted the union health minister to seek a report on the issue. The bread manufacturers, however, have vehemently denied using harmful ingredients in their products. <br />
 <br /> A total of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads were tested, out of which 84% tested positive for <keyword id="3375545" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="potassium-bromate">potassium bromate</keyword> and <keyword id="3375826" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="potassium-iodate">potassium iodate</keyword>, says the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). <br />
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Both these ingredients are banned in many countries, being listing as "hazardous" for public health; however, no such ban exists in India.<br />
 <br /> The <keyword id="3375827" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="All-India-Bread-Manufacturers-Association">All India Bread Manufacturer's Association</keyword> (AIBMA) has, on the other hand, denied that they use potassium bromate on a wide level. "Majority of Indian bread manufacturers do not use potassium bromate. We are going to present our point of view soon," Treasurer Sudeep Ahuja said. <br />
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Ahuja, however, added that some companies use potassium bromate so that breads have an increased shelf life. He also added that the ingredient is widely used in the US, which suggests that it isn't too harmful.<br />
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The members of the association will have a formal meeting to discuss the further course of action.<br />
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McDonald's India, from where a bread sample was taken, called the claims baseless, adding that it doesn't use potassium bromate or potassium iodate in flour or other ingredients. <br />
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Health Minister JP Nadda has also reacted to the report. "We are seized of the matter. I have told my officials to report to me on an urgent basis. There is no need to panic. Very soon we will come out with the report." <br />
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<a href="http://www.modernbazaar.co.in/admin/upload/MB%20BROWN%20BREAD%20LARGE.JPG"><em>Image source</em></a><br />

The bread you eat contains cancer-causing chemicals banned in several countries

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>For what appears to be the first time ever, McDonald's is selling the McFloat in the US.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Select McDonald's locations in New York and Seattle are now serving up a float made with Dr. Pepper and soft-serve ice cream.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"<span>As part of our journey to build a better McDonald's, our franchisees have more flexibility than before to offer new menu items like breakfast bowls,&#xa0;Gilroy garlic fries and yes, the Diet Dr. Pepper Float," McDonald's spokesperson Terri Hickey told Business Insider.&#xa0;</span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The&#xa0;McFloat has been a hit for McDonald's around the world, served in&#xa0;&#xa0;countries including </span><a href="http://www.mcdonaldsindia.net/happy-price-menu/coke-mcfloat.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;">India,</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#xa0;the Philippines, and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://www.mcdonalds.co.id/menu/item/33?ref=12">Indonesia</a>. However, while McDonald's wasn't able to confirm that McDonald's&#xa0;has&#xa0;<em>never&#xa0;</em>served&#xa0;a McFloat in the US, the beverage has never been sold nationally and Business Insider was unable to find evidence of other local offerings of the float in America.&#xa0;</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Internationally, the drink has been made with a wide variety of beverages.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Coke McFloat seems to be the&#xa0;international go-to, but the chain also serves up options such as the Philippines' Green Apple Sprite McFloat and Indonesia's</span><a href="http://www.mcdonalds.co.id/menu/item/71"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Iced Coffee Float</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div>    </div></span></p><p><div>    </div></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most online reviews, including one by James McGowan, who </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/best-mcdonalds-in-the-world-2016-2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">has visited McDonald's restaurants in 53 countries,</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#xa0;say it's a straightforward&#xa0;drink that tastes&#xa0;</span><a href="http://www.travellingmcds.com/2012/11/mcfloat-johor-bahru-malaysia-november.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pretty much like you would expect ice cream plus soda to taste.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#xa0;</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you like McDonald's soft serve and soda floats, you'll probably enjoy the McFloat - if your local restaurant ever decides to serve the sweet drink.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A medium&#xa0;<span>Dr. Pepper&#xa0;</span>Float is being sold for $1.99 in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Since the float&#xa0;is a local offer, if&#xa0;you're craving a comparable experience, you could buy a cup of Dr. Pepper ($1.29) and a vanilla soft serve ($1) and create a McFloat of your own for a comparable price. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The debut of the McFloat in the US is part of a wider move at McDonald's to test more local options, such as </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-sells-out-of-garlic-fries-2016-5"><span style="font-weight: 400;">garlic fries in San Francisco</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-is-testing-chorizo-and-chobani-yogurt-2016-2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chobani Greek yogurt at 800 locations</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in California. The chain is</span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-tests-fresh-beef-patties-2016-5"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> also testing fresh beef in 14 restaurants</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - something that could be a game changer if expanded across the US. </span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/most-hated-fast-food-restaurants-mcdonalds-burger-king-chick-fil-a-kfc-2016-5">These are America's 2 most hated fast-food restaurants</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="FpaGNxMzE6CtyhOPo6hneYboBPjG2Nb2" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

McDonald's is selling an international hit in the US for the first time

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Robert Galbraith/Reuters</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>McDonald's just applied for a trademark on a new slogan. However, it's far from the first time the fast-food chain has tried to change up its image with a new trademark. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earlier in March, McDonald's filed for a US trademark registration for the phrase "The Simpler the Better," a filing first noticed by </span><a href="http://burgerbusiness.com/mcds-trademarks-simpler-the-better/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the website Burger Business</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McDonald's isn't revealing what the trademark is for, but Burger Business has a few guesses. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> McDonald's is testing a "</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://burgerbusiness.com/yorkshire-pudding-buns-other-news/">Simple Delights</a>"</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> menu of items with 300 or fewer calories in San Diego, and has been emphasizing the simplification of the menu generally as part of its turnaround process over the last year. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, it could also end up being a phrase that customers never see. Here are a few of the stranger things that McDonald's has filed a trademark registration for over the years that many fast-food customers may not recall.</span></p><h2>1. Lovin' &gt; Hating</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mathematical symbols didn't translate too well into trademarks. McDonald's faced immediate backlash when </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/people-hate-mcdonalds-new-slogan-2014-10"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the Wall Street Journal reported in 2014</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that the chain would launch the new catchphrase.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/inazakira/">Flickr/inazakira</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><h2>2. McBrunch</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McDonald's caused quite a stir when the company filed to register "McBrunch" in 2014, with customers wondering if the trademark could signal a move towards breakfast being served later in the day. All-day breakfast tests followed in 2015 - but McDonald's has since abandoned the trademark. </span></p><h2>3. A.M.Azingly</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McDonald's filed for this term around the same time as McBrunch, presumably as another </span><a href="https://twitter.com/mcd_nola/status/524908096205111296"><span style="font-weight: 400;">breakfast marketing campaign</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, but it was never used in a national campaign.  </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/McDonaldsinIndia/photos/a.512848175435757.1073741828.416591035061472/970940102959893/?type=3&amp;theater">McDonald's India</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><h2>4. The McEgg</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is actually</span><a href="http://www.mcdonaldsindia.net/happy-meals/mcegg.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on the menu in India</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: a kid's burger with steamed egg, mayonnaise, chopped onion, and seasoning. </span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/McDonaldsLimerick/photos/br.Abo82rSFIjFikGFtgKJxN-TopIoz1OGPtq1ZarE3fxbvts18Okt_3YUOB54B3ZRsttAOrK-0llOIXGwnJh-smSQNJFfZs-MkEzNnvp_z8oUUka0Gy6isKZ6cDlegO35rgtQlErEb4h3gp_Y29-LEmSp7/1041640419225312/?type=1&amp;opaqueCursor=AbpsGYRsUerxQS8GMs5UNIHUYZAsxcPUH2z56fauVuwuzlHg_-GphJ1J9CxvtFnagLnGKg3H6YNTKIU0H-SLJeyBMld1L3lB7ssGibGBsSVcOUhiOC4ePMDx1TkvnihfJMw_A503knCVa01_6BpKgaUWc-63-YYpSWhdhf1qUhcyBifQ_DHlcCtKkXnV7xIh9mBi0c1wY6Mgq8JOVsSgoHKcu0bR2nHLrW0NOIJlQItNWB4PcH0IkqqAhFR8poo9mG-BS6Ju1LT3JmGcktxAM2yxS33Gm2G4sWrWaVMnpsW5u6RRsMk4kGE_mYvgpVQpFPN2wsgdEL_4RhoBj_3yhlMI&amp;theater">McDonalds Limerick</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>5. The McCruncher</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McDonald's briefly tested a $1 burger with this name, and now uses the trademarked term in Ireland for what Burger Business calls a "</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://burgerbusiness.com/mcds-trademarks-simpler-the-better/">budget burger topped with crispy onions.</a>"</span></p><h2>6. 'I am Asian.'</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an attempt to reach Asian-Americans customers, </span><a href="https://www.michigandaily.com/content/i-am-asian-campaign-elicits-mixed-reviews"><span style="font-weight: 400;">McDonald's raised some eyebrows</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in 2004 with a campaign and website titled "I am Asian," featuring </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">pictures of Asian Americans </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">enjoying fast food favorites</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. McDonald's canceled this trademark in 2012.</span></p><h2><span>7. Chief Happiness Officer</span></h2><p><span>McDonald's beat the startup trend of naming executives "chief happiness officer," naming Ronald McDonald </span><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonaldsr-corporation-names-ronald-mcdonald-chief-happiness-officer-71000117.html"><span>CHO in 2003</span></a><span>. </span><span>Companies including Delivering Happiness (an offshoot of Zappos), Google (actual title: Jolly Good Fellow), and Denmark-based consulting company WooHoo have all since adopted the term, reports the </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/aug/26/chief-happiness-officer-cho-employee-workplace-woohoo-google"><span>Guardian</span></a><span>.</span></p><h2>8. 'It's McDonald's with a Grown Up Taste'</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 1996, McDonald's tried to market a more gourmet, "grown-up" burger called the Arch Deluxe. The sophisticated angle </span><a href="http://www.benzinga.com/general/topics/14/08/4769457/mcdonalds-arch-deluxe-and-its-fall-from-grace"><span style="font-weight: 400;">didn't fly with consumers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and the company abandoned the trademark in 1998. </span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/in-n-out-burger-making-big-change-beef-antibiotic-2016-3">After pressure from activists, In-N-Out Burger is making a big change to their burgers</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="5vZTJwMTE6ITVP0mqWuDsF6DD0c0VLhZ" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

8 things you didn't know McDonald's has tried to trademark

<ul><li>After <keyword id="8937291" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="juan-delcan-and-valentina-izaguirre">Juan Delcan and Valentina Izaguirre</keyword>’s Safety Match art went viral on social media, more brands are playing with their logos to convey the importance of <keyword id="8897280" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-distancing">social distancing</keyword>. </li><li>As the situation around the world continues to intensify, we take a look at how brands are playing an active role in spreading awareness around hygienic practices of work from home, <keyword id="8937289" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="flattening-the-curve">flattening the curve</keyword>, and self isolation. </li></ul>What do Fevicol’s elephants, Audi’s four circles, and the interpunct in sitcom Friends’ title plate have in common? They have been inseparable since their inception. However, to illustrate the importance of social distancing, these brands have done what artists Juan Delcan and Valentina Izaguirre went viral for -- use their creativity to promote the importance of maintaining a safe distance from your family members. <br /><br />The artists Delcan and Izaguirre had uploaded a short video called Safety Match on social media, that illustrates the importance of working from home, social distance and urges people to #FlattenTheCurve. <br /><br />
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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<br />Flatten the curve refers to the projected number of people who will contract COVID-19 over a period of time. It aims to tell people that the speed at which the virus spreads in the world should be reduced, so that government bodies, scientists and hospitals are well-prepared to take care of every patient. The longer it takes, the more prepared we will be to fight it together. And to flatten this curve, it is important to wash your hands, work from home, maintain a distance and stay clean.<br /><br />
  
  
  
  
  
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<br />Since coronavirus is spread through respiratory droplets, when people cough or sneeze, maintaining a social distance can help reduce the chances of picking the virus up and spreading it to others. To convey this and get people out of their denial mode, various brands took to social media and started talking about self isolation and flattening the curve. <br /><br />
  
  
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	<div type="twitter" handle="ZEE5India" handlename="ZEE5" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1142017855795240960/siDfEgoY_normal.jpg" favoritecount="14" retweetcount="0" status="We’re in this together. But from a  D I S T A N C E. Stay safe, stay home.  #StayAtHome #FlattenTheCurve… https://t.co/r7k6alvWxd" createdat="1584681040000" id="1240868335614451712"></div>











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<br /><br />To maintain a social distance with people around you, it is important to stay put. Brands have also started using humour to remind people that we are in it together. Using memes and humour, ironically, is proving to be an effective way of communicating the seriousness of the issue. <br /><br />And when you get to eat bhujia and watch Netflix while attempting to work, you should not be complaining about quarantining yourself. This is what brands reminded their audiences:<br /><br />
  
  
  
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<br />Here is to hoping that more companies let their employees work from home and people start taking the importance of social distancing seriously. <br /><br />

You Searched For "mcdonalds india" and got 5 results

Quick service restaurants go premium in India, launch costlier products for better sales

BI India Bureau

The bread you eat contains cancer-causing chemicals banned in several countries

BI India Bureau

McDonald's is selling an international hit in the US for the first time

KATE TAYLOR

8 things you didn't know McDonald's has tried to trademark

KATE TAYLOR

When these iconic brands tweaked their logos to spread an important message about Coronavirus

Karuna Sharma