History of McDonalds
Siblings Dick and Mac McDonalds opened their first restaurant in San Bernardino, California. The principle of modern fast food restaurant called speedee service system was introduced by them. The original mascot of McDonalds was a man with a chef’s hat on top of a hamburger shaped head whose name was speedee. In 1963 speedee was replaced by Ronald McDonald. McDonalds serves nearly 48 million customers every day prompting it to become the world’s largest fast food restaurant. Desserts, hamburgers, fries, soft drinks, milkshakes and breakfast food are the primary products that are sold in McDonalds. McDonalds has recently included salad and fruits to its menu as well as a playground for children. Some McDonalds even have a fire place and lounge areas removing plastic chairs and tables. McDonalds is a franchise so each McDonalds is run by a franchisee. The company’s revenue comes from the rent, loyalties and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company operated restaurants.
Types of product at McDonalds
McDonald’s sells primarily beef related fast food products such as cheese burgers, ham burgers, quarter pounder and their signature product the Big Mac. But now due to customer trends changing they have now included salads in their menu as well as different types of food such as oriental snack wraps and egg sausage burgers. McDonalds also sells ice cream which is often called McFlurry. All of McDonald’s food is relatively cheap and is aimed at different types of people, young and old.
Product
McDonalds sells several many fast food products, the products I have chosen is cheese burger. The retail price of the product is 99p. The packaging is foam, plastic shaped as a box which can be opened, but now McDonalds have changed the packaging into yellow paper for some stores. This is because the packaging was causing pollution and wasting a lot of resources. McDonalds continues to design more efficient packaging and by promoting the use of recycle content material. The beef of the burger is not made on site but is delivered to the restaurant. The burger contains 100% pure beef with a single pickle, rehydrated onions, on a toasted bun. McDonalds beef is bought from farms accredited by nationally recognised farm assurance schemes. McDonalds can trace which farms the beef came from, and know the farmers name and how the animals were raised. At the supplier the meat is checked for a date and batch number. The quality of the meat is checked by the staff to ensure that it is at top quality. If the quality is bad then they won’t use it. The cheese burger is aimed mostly at young adults and teenagers.
McDonalds has a drive through service. People often with cars in the drive through service will receive their meals quickly than those waiting at the queue in the restaurant.
Price
The retail price of a cheese burger is 99p. The price has been set to make customers believe they are actually saving money but they are only saving 1pence. Psychological pricing is used to play on customers views. This is very effective as the consumer is tricked into thinking that the burger is cheaper than 1 pound. Then comes the cost- plus pricing, this is when you calculate the average cost plus a mark up to see if they made any money on top.
The price of the product does change. Cheese burger price may increase if the costs of dairy products and beef rise. So some stores will need to raise the price of the cheese burger and other products to counter financial loss.
Other businesses competing with McDonalds will have a difficult time competing with McDonalds, especially private businesses. A cheese burger in high street fast food restaurant like PFC (perfect fried chicken) will sell cheese burger at £1.10 or more. Customers will go to McDonalds rather than these shops because they will be saving money in McDonalds.
Place
McDonalds are located primarily in public places where there are a lot of busy roads and people shopping for example Oxford Street. Oxford Street is a location in west London where many people go and spend hours buying clothes and food. This kind of location will increase the demand of their products and services because many customers will be coming in the restaurant to place an order. A busy place will always increase sales. McDonalds is also located in most shopping centres in the UK.
McDonalds have relatively few sites on the motorway due to less demand of customers. These McDonald restaurants will often have a drive though service so customers can buy their products quickly.
Promotion
Some McDonalds restaurants do 3 cheeseburger for the price of 2. So customers will pay less. McDonalds also promote their business and products such as their cheeseburger offers through billboards, TV and internet. By doing this, McDonalds will attract as much customers as they can.
McDonalds also accepts vouchers, such as buy one cheeseburger and get one free. Almost all restaurants accept these vouchers but when the vouchers expire it cannot be used anymore.
History of KFC
Colonel Harland Sander bought a motel and cafe in Corbin, Kentucky in the 1930s. Colonel sanders had done several jobs such as railroading and operating a steam powered ferryboat but he always loved cooking. There was nothing special about fried chicken, Colonel found a way to combine 11 herbs and spices with flour to create a finger licking good coating. The dining area in Corbin was named Sanders and cafe and was so successful that Ruby Laffon governor of Kentucky gave the title of honorary Kentucky colonel to sanders in recognition of his contribution to the state’s cuisine.
At a time when most businesses were getting bankrupt and struggling Colonel’s business and reputation increased. But he was forced to sell his restaurant when a new interstate Highway was built through his property. Colonel Sanders at the age of 66 travelled the US with his new plan of created a franchise.
Small and independent restaurants were taught by Colonel to cook Kentucky Fried Chicken and his values. He took 5 cent royalty on every chicken sold With most of his deals sealed with only a handshake, there were 838 Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises across the United States by 1964.
The Colonel was now in his 70s and Kentucky Fried Chicken had grown larger than he could realistically handle, so he sold the operation to businessmen John Y Brown Jnr and Jack Massey for $2 million. But there were strict conditions: Colonel Sanders became Quality Controller and his image stayed on as the company trademark.
Colonel Harland D Sanders was 90 years old when he died in December 1980. His philosophies and values of hard work and excellent customer service are, and will always be a part of KFC.
KFC is currently owned by YUM brands which are the world’s largest fast food restaurant company in terms of system units, over 36,000 restaurants around the world in more than 110 countries and territories.
Types of products at KFC
KFC sells mostly chicken products these are chicken fillet burger, chicken zinger burger, chicken tower burger, zinger tower burger, and mini fillet burger, kid’s burger, toasted chicken twister wrap, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken and also sells salads for healthy options. KFC desserts are Avalanche, yoghurt and Rolo ice cream tub.
Product
The product I have chosen is chicken fillet burger. The retail price of the product is 1.99p. KFC uses paper packaging which helps the chicken crispy by wicking away excess moisture. The paper package is red with KFC logo in the middle. The chicken of the burger is not made on site but is delivered to the restaurant. 100% chicken breast fillet coated in KFC’s secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. KFC checks its suppliers to see if they are using any extra ingredients like antibiotic growth promoters to the chickens. Rearing conditions are also strictly regulated to ensure animal welfare. Welfare and bio security audits are carried out by independent experts. KFC chooses he best quality chicken from its suppliers.
Price
The retail price of a chicken fillet burger is 1.99p. The price has been set to make customers believe they are actually saving money but they are only saving 1pence. Psychological pricing is used to play on customers views. This is very effective as the consumer is tricked into thinking that the burger is cheaper than 1 pound. Then comes the cost- plus pricing, this is when you calculate the average cost plus a mark up to see if they made any money on top.
Place
KFC are located mostly in public places where there are a lot o busy roads and people shopping for example Oxford Street or Bethnal green. Street is a location in west London where many people go and spend hours buying clothes and food. This kind of location will increase the demand of their products and services because many customers will be coming in the restaurant to place an order. A busy place will always increase sales.
KFC have quite a lot of sites on the motorway due to KFC being popular with drivers. These KFC restaurants will often have a drive though service so customers can buy their products quickly.
Promotion
KFC has free chicken wings promotion for its UK stores. KFC also promotes there business and products such as their chicken zinger burger one the signature dish of the company in bill boards, TV and internet. By doing this KF will attract many customers as they can. KFC also accepts vouchers, such as free Ice cream.
