McSpaghetti is sweet foray into Filipino flavors

MANILA - McDonald's founder George Yang knew just how to lure Filipinos into his all-American fast food chain in the 1980s -- add more sweet flavors on the menu.

Sweet spaghetti whipped up by the family cook would provide the blueprint for McSpaghetti, after it got the older Yang's approval. This heralded other localized items on the menu.

"The idea, the taste profile came from Dad, and of course we do know Filipinos love or prefer more sweet than sour," Yang's son, and current McDonald's president and CEO, Kenneth Yang, said.

"Over the years we’ve improved it, changed it to adapt," he told ANC.

Aside from McSpaghetti, McDonald's Philippines also offers fried chicken, Burger McDo, which has a sweet dressing instead of mustard and ketchup on McDonald's hamburgers, and Eggdesal which uses pan de sal instead of English muffins.

It is with same willingness to innovate that the younger Yang runs the fast food giant's Philippine operations.

"I've gone and visited with my children, my wife, try out some things, maybe get some ideas," he said, when asked what he thought about food parks.

"If I can fit it to my menu too, to kind of brainstorm about, maybe one day it comes out in McDonald's," he said.

The CEO said food parks and convenience stores would not necessarily eat into McDonald's sales as it helps drive foot traffic both ways.

"While we’re there we’re also serving their needs, it does develop healthy competition but at the same time complimentary," he said.