McDonald's to Open Branch in China's Most Populous ProvinceThe world's fast food giant McDonald's will open a branch in central China's Henan Province, and gradually expand its business to China's northwest and southwest markets.McDonald's has signed a cooperation contract with Zhengzhou Youyi (Commercial) Co. to set up Henan McDonald's Co., Ltd. in this China's most populous province, which has a population of some 93 million. The U.S. fast food giant will bring its first investment of five million U.S. dollars to this province in mid-April during an international trade fair to be held in the province. McDonald's has chosen China as its important market for further development in the year 2000, said Zhu Yuanhe, Vice-President of McDonald's (China) Co., Ltd., who paid a visit to Henan recently. Zhu believed that there would be a rosy picture for McDonald's in Henan. McDonald's plans to open at least 30 restaurants in seven cities in the province. The first restaurant is scheduled to open in Zhengzhou, capital city of Henan, in July. McDonald's is also considering setting up a distribution center in Henan when the time is ripe. McDonald's purchasing people will come to Henan to study the local cattle raising and other raw materials processing bases. Zhang Yixiang, vice-governor of Henan Province, said that Henan is a market with great potential and his provincial government would create good conditions for bilateral cooperation. McDonald's has opened 25,000 restaurants in 119 countries and regions since it opened its first one in the United States in 1955. McDonald's has 257 restaurants in 17 provinces and municipalities in China. |
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