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Posts from the ‘International Intrigue’ Category

May 14

Chain Links: Fast Food Loves New York

American fast food chains abroad just can’t stop celebrating the mother country. McDonald’s UK is running its “Great Tastes of America” promotion with five geographically themed burgers: New York Special, Chicago Supreme, Miami Melt, New Orleans Deluxe and Texas Grande. Gone are the Arizona Grande and California Classic of the past.

This is not the first year or first country to offer these specials. Here’s a 2008 Swedish ad for the Miami Melt that channels the ‘80s. [Burger Business]

Why McDonald’s has been a positive force for change. [The Independent]

Also, Texas Roadhouse wants to take over the Middle East, or at least open 35 restaurants in eight countries by 2020. No pork or alcohol, naturally. Let’s hope they do keep the country line-dancing staff. [Business First]

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May 12

Chain Links: Israeli-style Hamburgers

Burger ranch chart Israel has 52 Burger Kings and 55 Burger Ranches. This summer that will change to zero and 107. According to a press release, “recent research indicated that the Israeli style of hamburgers was far more popular.” But they don’t explain what an Israeli-style hamburger is! I need to know. [Jerusalem Post]

I would’ve imagined that South Korea already had a fast food bibimbap restaurant, yet Bibigo, selling the mixed rice dish, just launched in Seoul Monday. The company has its sights set on Beijing, Singapore and Los Angeles for 2010. Maybe their wish to become the “McDonald’s or Starbucks of Korean food” will be realized. I would've worked in a Pinkberry reference. [JoongAng Daily]

Chart that needs no Hebrew skills to interpret is from Burger Ranch's Facebook page.

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May 5

Chain Links: French Fried Chicken

Chic mcdonalds After throwing in the towel 11 years ago, Dunkin' Donuts is returning to Russia. Part of their losses the first time 'round were attributed to "a rogue franchisee who sold liquor and meat pies."

Also, Russians don't really eat doughnuts. Nigel Travis, chief executive of Dunkin' Brands aims to combat that with a doughnut-like creation, "Without giving away too much, we've found that they favor something called scalded cream and a very nice raspberry jam as a pastry filling." [WSJ]

Last week Tokyo got its first "chic" McDonald's, a new concept swapping bright plastic for light wood, that will be rolled out across the city. Menu's the same, prices are higher. [CNNGo]

French-based KFCs make more money than any other location globally, so it's only logical that the chain plans to triple their presence in the supposedly fast food-hating nation by 2015, aiming for 300 stores. [WSJ]

Photo from Shibuya246

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Apr 27

Better Than Chocolate and Cuckoo Clocks?

Swissburger While McDonald's Germany names cupcakes after New York City neighborhoods, in Switzerland, the burger chain is celebrating the diversity within their own borders. Their "Swiss Weeks" promotion features three burgers, each based on a region of the country. The most interesting aspect is that the ads are in the language appropriate to each.

The McRomandie, using Gruyere and Paillasse bread is advertised in French, the McBärn with bacon, a hash brown patty and Emmentaler is in German, while the basil, mozzarella and tomato topped McTicino is in Italian.

In case you were wondering, the Swiss McDonald's site is in German. You can watch the ads there.

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Apr 26

The Pinkberry of Pasta

Nooi

It would be one thing for NYC to get two new pasta chains, but two French pasta chains? That's just weird.

Hello Pasta is planned for a midtown, 640 Lexington Avenue, opening in June with nine more locations to follow. Third Avenue at 44th Street and Maiden Lane at Water Street are listed on their website. No clues about the menu.

Nooï, an already existing French chain, will also be opening on Lexington, 340 Lexington Avenue to be precise. "Indian and Mexican sauces" will be among their 15 offerings. I do see a Bollywood sauce on their French menu, which appears to combine curry powder, chicken, yogurt and lime.

I'm not really much of a pasta eater. Flam's, the French flammkuchen chain from the Nooï folks, sounds much more interesting. Alsatian pizza is definitely a wide open market in NYC.

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Apr 23

MOSDO!

Mosdo Today marks the birth of a mind-blowing Japanese hybrid: MOSDO! A combination MOS Burger/Mister Donut. We only have Taco Bell/Pizza Hut, a pathetic duo not even close to competing with the Japanese capacity for novelty (though it is the perfect subject for a ridiculous catchy song).

From what I can visually deduce, sets are being offered: three burgers that can be paired with three doughnuts and a drink. They also have something called Hot & Cool, a doughnut cut in half and topped with ice cream and a fruity sauce, which I did not see at any of the Bangkok locations last month. (It’s hard to believe that CentralWorld, home to MOS Burger and Mister Donut, and countless hotels are currently closed due to the political unrest in Thailand. This time it’s red shirts. Bangkok was essentially shut down during my originally planned visit late 2008 by yellow shirts. I did find an email from one of the hotels I had booked kind of charming, “Your money has been refunded due to the political.” I have referred to this situation as “The Political” ever since. And yes, I realize there are more serious subjects than burgers and doughnuts in the world but this is a food blog.)

You know that this is a Japanese venture because they don’t mingle the two brands too closely. It’s still pure. We would take the next logical step and put a MOS Burger inside a Mister Donut. Duh. It only took a week before the Double Down got Krispy Kreme’d. [Japan Today]

Photo from Yomiuri Online.

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Apr 14

Fictional International Intrigue

I can only wonder if Hugo Reyes' fried chicken chain, Mr. Cluck's, is more Popeye's, KFC or Pollo Campero. Whatever style they serve, it's clearly a global hit in the alternate universe. 

Mr. cluck's paris
Baguettes not biscuits.

Mr. cluck's japan
You know they serve teriyaki-glazed chicken.

Mr. cluck's egypt
A halal bucket of chicken?

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Apr 13

Chain Links: Oolong Blizzards

A Q&A with Unnat Varma , director marketing-KFC, Yum! Restaurants India reveals that KFC is trying to target “non-sensitive vegetarians,” the estimated 50% of Indian vegetarians who don’t eat meat but don’t mind eating in a place that serves it. 

Yum! Brands already has a presence in Brazil and Chile, and they’ll be getting ten more KFCs and Pizza Huts this year.

CNN’s recently re-tuned living section has a piece on localized fast food menus. Angry commenters complain that this isn’t news and dub the author “dumbest writer ever.” Jeez, what did the Maharaja Mac ever do to you?

Localizing menus is a fine balance. Dairy Queen is expanding to Macao where they’ll serve Green tea Blizzards (oolong is being tested) of course, and no bacon for Egypt.

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Apr 8

Indovations…Sinovations

Spritea Sanjeev Chadha, chairman of PepsiCo India is big on "Indovations." Corny? I thought so until I read about the Willy Wonka-esque concept behind Slice, a mango soda. In order to appeal to the regional tastes of Indians devoted to their local mango varieties, "PepsiCo scientists combined different mango flavor notes into this one drink…Depending on your favorite variety, that's the flavor you notice when drinking it." Problem solved.

Nestle is merely trying to "Indianise" their products in order to grow the market that currently only makes up 1.5% of their total sales. No details on what this Indianizing will entail. Kulfi Drumsticks (not to be confused with saragawa, colloquially known as drumsticks in India)?

Japanese food companies are also trying to expand beyond their own borders, and they know what sells. One approach is to "capitalize on cute Asian-themed characters like koalas and pandas."  Hello Kitty wine?

Sprite is more popular than Coke in China. In fact, it's the number one selling soda in the country, which is why Spritea, Sprite flavored with green tea, is only logical. (In Japan they've already added green tea to Coke and shiso to Pepsi.)

Spritea photo from Hong Kong Express.

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Apr 8

Croissan’wiches Are From Mars, McMinis Are From Venus

McDonald's Canada has taken to promoting their McMini chicken sandwiches in a most un-Burger King-like manner. Men wanted showering ladies, of course.


Women, however, are unable to eat whole sandwiches, want a man to hold yarn for them while they knit and they love babies, especially Hollywood babies.

Makes me even hungrier for a Double Down.

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