McDonald's Global Decline: Too Uncool?
Over the last year I have watched as two local McDonald's outlets have closed - no reason given. I was waiting for big refurbished McDonald's to appear - but they didn't. In my area, there are now an equal number of Subway and McDonald's outlets.
This anecdotal evidence is hardly an indication of global decline. McDonald's revenue is as healthy as ever. However, a recent study shows that McDonald's is just not hip anymore - particularly on the "global teen" market.
Coca-Cola still topped the chart in terms of name recognition, followed by McDonald's. But Coke fell to eighth place when it came to likeability, and the burger chain dropped all the way to No. 32. Disney and America Online also nose-dived in appeal.So much for the theory that McDonald's indoctrinates kids when they're young. These teens might have had Happy Meals when they were younger, but McDonald's may be off the menu now. These results are from 13 countries, and could indicate disillusionment with America.
However I suspect most teens couldn't care less as to where there products come from - just as long as they are "in the loop" on the cool brands. McDonald's always styled itself as a family restaurant - a sentiment that doesn't necessarily sit well with a wannabe independent youth.
Will fast food ever become uncool?
"their young"
Er, that'd be "they're."
ReplyI think as you get older, your palate changes too. When I was a kid, I loved McD's, Burger King, etc. But as I got older I started liking fast food less and less. When I was in my teens, I didn't eat at fast food joints too much anymore because frankly, the food just was not up to par. I'd rather spend a little money on a decent restaurant where I can get an entree with some color and taste in it. And let's face it...kids usually only like McD's for the Happy Meal toys and the chicken nuggets.
ReplyDon't underestimate the media's role in promoting the 'Obesity Epidemic'. Possible that is having a sub-conscious effect on people's eating decisions. Most people equate McDonalds with 'junk food', even if McD's wants us to think they have 'healthy choices' to chose from.
I say - it's about time!
ReplyActually, McDonalds do have healthy choices to chose from. I love their salads, can eat them every day and it is a part of my diet. I just finished my lunch: California Cobb with Grilled Chicken salad plus vinegar dressing, it gave me 320 cal, 35 g protein, 16 carbs and 14 fat, that is not so bad at all. Oh, and their new fruit salad is really delicious!
Replyalenka
I'm fully aware of their healthy choices menu, it was first unleashed in Australia.
Apparently around 5% of their sales are generated by these products.
In Australia, these healthy choices are marketed to Mums and Dads. In the adverts they encourage the parents to come back to McDonalds, parents can eat the salads, kids can have the happy meals.
Look at who the Happy meals are marketed at ? Can these young children make the same nutrtitional choices as adults ?
It's a big sham!
ReplyI think this can actually be explained by the mutlitude of marketing studies conducted on the new generations. All studies show that the new youth are not fans of large mutlinationals, traditional promotion and marketing activities do not work on them. Irrespective on how McDonalds tries to sell itself to the young generations, it cant work - they are not fans of mutlinational companies. Multinational is very uncool, particularly American mulinationals. All the advertising McDonalds does actually turns them off.
ReplyAlenka - 14 grams of fat in a salad???
That's pretty bad, honey!
lowcarb Dave - no, children cannot make the same nutritional choices as adults. But if they're eating those happy meals, it's because Mum and Dad bought it for them.
ReplyI'm with Christi, wow, 14g for one of those tiny salads?
I don't eat particularly low-fat and I still get around 20-25g for the whole DAY. I could never fit a 14g fat salad in my eating plan.
ReplyI cannot understand why people are brainwashed. Isn't that what's happening here? Us humans all strive to be different, to be noticed, stand out in the crowd etc., especially when we're teenagers, and yet we have such a strong sense of wanting to belong; not left out of the crowd etc. But why oh why do we have to act like sheep and eat at a so called "cool" place. I can very proudly say that I have never in my life stepped over a McD threshold, let alone eaten something indescribable that they dish out. And what about all those trees?!? Where do all the paper containers come from? So many precious trees being destroyed & so affecting our environment. Everything is throw away - in the end does this include the human being who is slowing killing himself with all the salt & sugar & fat in McD products? In response to low-carb Dave's comment re healthy salad, these salads are not healthy. They contain sugar & loads a calories. I agree, it is a sham...it's also such a shame that McD is allowed to get away with all of this. I guess it's down to money & power?? Bit of a sad old world really. I do feel concerned for my grand children and our future generations. I read recently that 1 in 3 children born from 2000 will develop diabetes, which of course good old McD products (sorry I can't bring myself to call it food) contains all the ingrediants to contribute to diabetes, cholestorel, weight gain, mood swings, poor libido. Don't believe me? See the dvd "Supersize Me". Well I'm off to enjoy my fresh chicken and home made salad served on a china plate and filtered water, served in a glass. Does this make me "uncool"....do I look bovvered?!?
ReplyThere are many "healthier" choices that are offered, but when the choice comes down to it the majority of people go for the burgers. If we are going to critisize mcdonalds i think we should be critizing ourselves for making it the #1 fast food restaraunt in America. Its our dieting choices that have helped it be so sucsessful.
Personally I beleive that you should eat what you enjoy without counting. Staying active is the best way to be healthy.
Replywhen you ask: will fast food ever become uncool? - honey, it already has...
ReplyMcDonald's can have a great hip of money if they added fish on their menu, switch to grass-fed beef, cut out fried foods, and added in smoothies and healthier shakes made from grass-fed cows and organic complex sugars and better sweetners, instead of milk from unhealthy grain-fed cows, sucrose sugars, and synthetic flavorings. They need to remove the buns and the french fries. THAT causes heart diseases, not the patties.
Remember, if you have high cholesterol problems, it's the trans fats and refined carbohydrates, NOT the saturated fats and cholesterol. So, if you have heart disease, now you can have a steak and eat it too, but still, you need to make half your protein in fish.
Fokes, the way we are treating heart disease and diabetes is obsolete. Traditional low-fat, moderate protein, high carbohydrate diets don't work. The theorpy of heart disease and diabetes is to avoid grains, refined carbohydrates, starchy foods, fried/processed foods, and soy products.
Replyi like Mcdonalds!!! yay!!! lmfao but i do agree that it is bad but i mean if you have common sence you're going to know that it is bad for you :))
ReplyMacDonalds is NOT healthy, people! Wow it serves low carb, low cal salad. But when u actually look at the nutritional information about the fact that 1. the food (chicken) is processed 2. The sodium and sugar contents are ridiculous and 3. the serving sizes are huge, way more than 1 serving, MacDonalds is no where near healthy. opt for bringing your own food such as leftovers on the road. Most rest stop areas should have microwaves, especially near highways for truckers purposes.
Replybla bla bla bla bla. all of you should stick your head down a toilet and then jump of a cliff.
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