In the midst of significant inflation, a variety of items, ranging from tomatoes to cheese slices, are gradually vanishing from the menus of restaurants. Customers visiting Burger King India will now find that burgers are being served without tomatoes, as the renowned American fast food chain has chosen to eliminate this vegetable from its menu at numerous Indian branches. This decision is attributed to inconsistent supplies, with the company pointing to uncertain conditions affecting the quality and availability of tomato crops.
"We regret to inform you that, due to the unpredictable variables affecting the quality and supply of tomato harvests, we are currently unable to include tomatoes in our culinary offerings. We assure you that tomatoes will make their return in due course. During this interim period, we kindly request your patience and understanding," the company stated on its customer support section of the website. Despite attempts to seek clarification, a spokesperson for the company remained unresponsive to inquiries.
Following in the footsteps of its counterparts McDonald's and Subway, Burger King has also taken steps to modify its menu in India. McDonald's, mainly in its North and East outlets, recently dealt with the unavailability of high-quality tomatoes by temporarily excluding them from its burgers. Similarly, Subway opted to replace traditional cheese slices in its sandwiches with cheese sauce. While customers still have the option to include cheese slices, they come at an extra charge of Rs 30 per slice.
A spokesperson for Subway India explained that the decision to introduce cheese sauce as the primary "cheesy ingredient" stems from a desire to enhance the customer experience. The spokesperson emphasized that this move was not a response to high inflation. The company clarified, "The creamy, cheesy sauce is a product that maintains stability under heat, preserves the moistness and succulence of our subs, and provides a delightful mouthfeel. Its development is solely driven by the pursuit of quality."
"In regards to Pizza Hut, I cannot definitively state that we have moved past the most challenging phase (regarding gross margin) since we are still grappling with rising input costs. Once we attain a clearer understanding of the trends in cheese and milk prices, we will be in a position to provide a more definite assessment," noted Manish Dawar, the CFO and director of Devyani International, the entity responsible for managing brands such as Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee, and KFC in India, as stated earlier.
