(Wednesday, May 16, 2007) - The US based fast food chain McDonald's Holdings Co plan to increase its proportion of franchise restaurants in Japan by 40 per cent within the next five years. To reach this target the company will need to convert at least 1,700 of its 3,800 stores into franchisees. McDonald's Holdings Co has decided to take this move in an effort to reduce its dependence on the more expensive directly managed outlets, which would allow the company to concentrate on developing new products, improving kitchen equipment and streamlining distribution and procurement.