04/04/07

Why is the fast-food business doing so well?

            You might think to yourself: Why are burgers flying off the shelves while the fruits and vegetables are left untouched, even though we all know what burgers have done to our society? Well there are many answers to this question. All the major fast-food companies have included healthy options to their menus and believe it or not these too are selling well.

            For the past 10 years the top picks for restaurants’ in the summer season have been burgers, fries, and pizza. It’s not a wonder though, because how can you not give in to the temptations when you into the restaurant and smell the scrumptious smell of fries flowing in the air? Not many people can resist this temptation. That’s one main reason why it’s selling so well.

            More than half of the children in the world have working mothers. With both parents working, it leaves a limited amount of time to concentrate on the diet being fed to children. Nowadays more children than ever before are involved with school and other activities which make them work both mentally and physically. At the end of the day everybody in the family, particularly the children are exhausted and hungry. With the parents being tired from work or not being home yet when the children arrives, results in the easiest way of being full; fast-food. You’re walking home from soccer practice and you pass by your local Burger King, why not pick up a burger? We’re a nation which is always on the go and most of us only have enough time for a fast-food meal. It’s hot, tasty, and real easy to eat.

            The average person’s yearly wage isn’t too much, especially in a developing country. Without money and time, it’s hard to find the find the right food to eat. Then came fast-food and it’s affordable. The average burger is only 3 dollars, with some fries and a drink, it’s around 5 dollars. Who wouldn’t pass up the opportunity of tasting something that looks and smells so yummy and doesn’t cost a fortune?

            Not only is fast-food affordable, but it is very well known around the world. Advertisement is the main reason to why fast-food is so well known. Fast-food companies target their advertisements to their number one consumers; children. McDonalds is a good example for targeting the children. It has Happy Meals which include toys that children get with ordering the meal and most McDonald outlets provide Playland where the children can play while waiting for their food or after they ate. There are many other ways of advertising that fast-food has used, for example: TV. commercials, newspaper and magazine ads, billboards, appearing as a product used on TV. and movies, and sponsorship. McDonalds used a campaign in 2005’s Super Bowl and Pizza Hut made them the first to deliver pizzas out of space.