F&B News

Fast food retail giants on hiring spree

EH Staff - Mumbai

Fast food retail giants are taking a giant leap forward in recruiting freshers to meet the demand for new restaurants in 2007. McDonald's India is looking at recruiting 1,500 freshers from the Indian Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), the Livelihood Advancement Business School (LABS) - the flagship programme of Dr Reddy's Foundation, and employee referral programmes, whereas Dominos Pizza India will enroll 1,300 freshers from various campuses of IIHM.

McDonald's India is planning to increase its restaurants from 105 to 155 this year, Dominos is expanding its outlets from 135 to 200 by March 2008. Meanwhile, Yum! Restaurants International too is evaluating plans to expand its existing strength of 127 'Pizza Hut' restaurants and 23 KFCs to more number of restaurants in many cities. Pulse Foods too is recruiting freshers from IIHM, this year.

Amit Jatia, managing director, west and south, McDonald's India, said, "Since we are also opening 25 new hubs of McDelivery concept in cities such as Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Gujarat apart from setting up 15 new McDonald's kiosks for takeover of food products, by next year, we will enroll freshers to cater to these initiatives as well. Further, we are also implementing 'Employee Value Proposition' (EVP) to actively promote employees from within the organisation. Last year, promotions were given to 60 per cent of the 5,000 employees across the board."

Since recruiting freshers will be part of the EVP, McDonald's India this year is visiting campuses and making a structure communication to them apart from directly communicating with the freshers. This strategy in a business becomes imperative and career growth across levels is a unique selling proposition. "The company is also creating more opportunities of cross functional exposures for internal employees in terms of geographical experience," Amitabha Sen, head, HR, McDonald's India, said.

Dominos Pizza India is planning to start 'Empowerment Programmes' (EPs) to enable employees to upgrade their career growth fast in the company. As part of the EPs, variable pay as a percentage of total package will be enhanced from all levels beginning from team member graduates to hotel supervisors. Ajay Kaul, vice-president, Dominos Pizza India, said, "Last year, we have given promotion to 30 per cent of 1,800 employees where management graduates have become store managers after imparting 12-15 months training to them."