JAKARTA. Fast food giant McDonald's Indonesia will launch a mobile application for food orders in the fourth quarter of this year to tap the growing smartphone market and keep up with the shifting customer behavior, a senior company employee said on Thursday.

Customers can currently order food for delivery through the McDonald's website, said Michael Hartono, McDonald's Indonesia's marketing and communication director.

The food chain said that a mobile application would give customers easier access to order food order amid growing technology use and development in Indonesia.

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"We are currently developing the application and hope to launch it by the fourth quarter of 2016," Michael said during an event in Jakarta on Thursday.

Once it is launched, customers can download the app and click on the menu when they want to place an order, he added.

McDonalds recorded a stable performance in 2015 amid the global economic slowdown affecting commodity prices and people's purchasing power, Michael said without giving further details.

McDonald's plans to open 15 stand-alone outlets across the country, adding to its 168 outlets in Indonesia.

The fast food giant aims to record 15 percent sales growth this year, Michael said.

McDonald's Indonesia operates under PT Rekso Nasional Food, which holds the franchise license in Indonesia for McDonald's.

Free Egg McMuffin

McDonald's will give away 1,000 Egg McMuffins at stand-alone stores across Indonesia on March 7 from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. as part of a promotional campaign. They can be obtained at outlet counters or drive-thrus, Michael said on Thursday. A 50 percent discount will also be given on coffee and hash browns during breakfast.

During what the company calls National Breakfast Day, held since 2013 on the first Monday of March, free souvenirs, such as T-shirts, will be given to selected customers.

As this year's event coincides with McDonald's 25th anniversary, the company will also give free Egg McMuffins to public institutions, such as schools, police posts, firefighters and hospitals.

Customers at the event could receive discount vouchers for the following day's meal, Michael added. (Marg)