Fast Food Is Taking Over India

America prides itself on being a country filled with tremendous cultural diversity, especially regarding the food options. With so many different food genres to choose from, America needed to stand out somehow. In comes the booming fast food industry, which not only altered the way Americans are eating today, but also allows America to dominate the food industry internationally. And India, a country applauded for its traditional dishes, has fallen under America's spell.

Beginning in the early 1990s, the Indian food industry was mainly controlled by smaller eateries, until McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Domino's Pizza and Subway began changing the nature of the Indian food service, according to The Hindu Business Line. From then on, the food industry of India evolved to mirror the American way of dining.

The major factors contributing to the consistent expansion are a rise in disposable income, an increase in urbanization, and the fact that half of India's population is under 35 and will be the ones consuming these foods. That being said, the Economic Times predicts that India's food industry will have a net worth as high as $5.6 billion by 2020.

However, this growth might not be sustained in the long run. India Today reports that due to overwhelming market pressure for KFC India and McDonald's India to raise their prices, it might mean abandoning their original values of providing cheap eats, leading to a slew of disappointed consumers.

Regardless, this slight setback does not seem to slow down the creation of more chains across the country, with currently 3,000 restaurants for over 100 brands and no intention of stunting more growth. Fast food has taken its American origins and revolutionized the culture of eating around the world, and the transformation of India's food industry is a great example of that.