McDonald's, the global economic boom and Cameron's myopia

suki1001

kabayiri wrote: »

Some companies have been very adept at selling a different abroad compared to the home market, it's true.

McDonalds is one such company, another is Budweiser.

They try and give the beer a premium feel here whereas in the states its very much standard fodder.

The other asset of McDonalds is the consistency. You should feel like you're able to walk into a McDs restaurant in Beijing and have the same food taste as back in Michigan.

People do like familiarity. A friend of mine was over from the States a few years back. She'd been really ill and the only thing she felt she could eat was a subway. I remember as a teenager being in Germany and all me and my friend wanted to eat was a macdonalds (although I was aspiring to a disillusioned lifestyle and thought drinking pepsi was cool - cider came later;)). Mind you, the the German family I stayed with gave me things like boiled dumplings and it didn't give me a very favourable view of German food. I now know differently of course.

Mr_Mumble

dtsazza wrote: »

Mr Mumble - I appreciate the graph, but what's your actual point here?

To be blunt: the idea of a "global economic crisis" is nonsense. The economic growth of large global companies along with the countries with the world's largest populations is evidence in favour of my viewpoint. The "global economic crisis" is a myopic viewpoint created in the main by those in western Europe and to a lesser extent the USA. I wasn't trying to make a point about austerity, tax or spending.

Kennyboy66

Mr_Mumble wrote: »

To be blunt: the idea of a "global economic crisis" is nonsense. The economic growth of large global companies along with the countries with the world's largest populations is evidence in favour of my viewpoint. The "global economic crisis" is a myopic viewpoint created in the main by those in western Europe and to a lesser extent the USA. I wasn't trying to make a point about austerity, tax or spending.

Except the EU, USA and Japan still make up more than half or world GDP, despite about one eighth of the world population.

ChiefGrasscutter

The price of a Mcdonald's big mac in various countries has long been used by economists as a better comparisons of the relative buying power of a country's currency than the official exchange rate.

Big_Alf

julieq wrote: »

McDonalds isn't about cost or comfort in the Far East. You can buy tastier more comforting food at about a quarter of the price anywhere there is a McDonalds. It's about brand aspiration and acceptance of a globalised world view.

You really need to drop this myth of McDonalds being a sign of aspiration and social mobility in the east. It's quite a condescending and 'little inglunder' view to take if im honest.

I think people would be surprised how few people in the east actually care about aspiring to be 'westernised' or having a 'gloabalised world view'.

I mean do all those people visiting Yo Sushi and Wagamamma aspire to be Japanese? That is essentially what you are saying.

McDonalds and KFC are always heaving at lunchtimes because they are the cheapest and most convenient places available to most urban workers. A value meal costs 15rmb (quid fifty) and for that they get nice comfortable surroundings, free wi fi, clean toilets etc....

bendix

julieq wrote: »

McDonalds isn't about cost or comfort in the Far East. You can buy tastier more comforting food at about a quarter of the price anywhere there is a McDonalds. It's about brand aspiration and acceptance of a globalised world view.

This. Having lived in Thailand for much of the last decade I can categorically state that chains that are considered low-level in the west are aspirational here. Kids crave to be seen eating KFC, Big Macs and Subway, and the prices here are pretty much the same as in the west, which is ridiculous given the quality and cost of the street food.

These are luxury brands in Asia.

suki1001

bendix wrote: »

This. Having lived in Thailand for much of the last decade I can categorically state that chains that are considered low-level in the west are aspirational here. Kids crave to be seen eating KFC, Big Macs and Subway, and the prices here are pretty much the same as in the west, which is ridiculous given the quality and cost of the street food.

These are luxury brands in Asia.

This is an age thing. When I was 14 I thought it was cool to eat in Macdonalds. When I was a bit older 16, I could smoke in there and it was cheap enough to eat, so I hung out with my friends, buying small fries and a hot chocolate with the intention of it making me last 2 hours. Of course my parents didn't aspire to eat there, although my grandparents went once and they thought it was "marvelous"!
I would say globally it is aspirational, but only in the right age group. Now at the grand age of 35, I couldn't think of anything worse and like my parents, it is certainly not where I aspire to be. I have 2 children now. One would have it as the place of choice to eat given the chance, the other doesn't like it at all (good girl!)