Will Fast Food Delivery Make us Fatter?
Recently a few select Burger King Restaurants in the Washington DC area have been quietly testing home delivery. If successful, it may put the company ahead in the fast food wars. Until now home delivery has been limited to certain types of food, for example pizza or Chinese food, but there might be a market for fast food home delivery.
Other food chains have been delivering for quite some time; subs, hoagie sandwiches, etc. Some delivery companies even use special containers to deliver takeout food from restaurants that don’t deliver. “There are some real food-quality issues here,” says Ron Paul, president of research firm Technomic. “But there’s no question that consumer expectation for having things delivered has risen.” All kinds of restaurants have been looking into catering and delivery options as a way to stretch their markets.
Burger King has developed a “proprietary thermal packaging technology,” says Jonathan Fitzpatrick, Chief Brand and Operations Officer for Burger King, “which ensures the Whopper is delivered hot and fresh, and the French fries are delivered hot and crispy.” Delivery is the focus because customers don’t want soggy burgers and limp fries delivered to their homes.
With a $2.00 delivery fee, minimum orders are between $8 and $10. Delivery times are approximately 30 minutes and customers must live within a 10 min drive. All of which are pretty standard in the food delivery services.
Most of the feedback focuses on the not-so-healthy aspects of fast food. The first is concerning healthy options. Everyone knows that fast food is not good for you. Fast food is high in fat and fried, processed foods and sweet deserts are to blame for many physical difficulties and obesity. People who already live an unhealthy lifestyle aren’t likely to benefit by having fast food home delivery as an option. They will likely continue with their poor eating habits.
With a large percentage of the population paying better attention to the quality of their food and to proper nutrition, fast food and other restaurants have been changing their menus to offer healthier ingredients in their meals. Special meals for kids, usually marketed with colorful packaging and toys that tie in with popular media, now offer everything from milk to fruit snacks and other healthy choices.
Another concern is similar to the first; having food delivered requires less effort than going out to get it. Many assume that with more businesses, grocery stores, and restaurants making deliveries, an already lazy and sedentary population will become more so.
If the question is will it work; the answer has to be maybe. Other countries and even some of the more populous areas in the US have delivery services for any number of wants. And Domino’s, whose business is 70% delivery, is watching — with a smile. “We wish them luck,” spokesman Tim McIntyre says. “There is a reason that not all pizza places deliver: It isn’t easy.”
About the author: Jaime is an avid hiker and skier who loves to write in her spare time for CenturyLinkQuote.com– home of CenturyLink.
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