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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: What is up with KFC in China???
Really, there must be something I'm missing here. I'm trying to understand... Is it KFC's marketing department? A cultural thing? Pricing maybe? Back in Canada, it's almost a marginal food chain, way behind McDonald's, Burger King, Subway... Even local franchises have more stores than KFC!
My hubby was asking the same question, we're really puzzled about it.
I think Western fast food chains in general in China are thriving and this is one of the main culprits behind China's growing obesity problem. I do think KFC excel at marketing and they're also involved in a feisty price war with MacDonalds, wherby each company is trying to offer the cheapest and most attractive meal deals.
Back in the late 80's and 90's as a kid growing up, I remember how it was still "cool" for kids to throw a birthday party at MacDonalds. I think China is 20 years behind the West and still sees KFC etc. as acceptable and even somewhat "trendy" places to eat.
I actually quite enjoyed reading the article below about the popularity of American junk food in China:
Wow... just wow. That was an awesome answer, Redaria! Thank you for unveiling one of the most recurring question I had for quite some time!
While it doesn't really explain KFC being more popular than McDonalds...
which might have something culturally to do with Chinese people being more accustomed to eating chicken than hamburgers...
From personal experience these western restaurants are typically a lot cleaner than their Chinese counterparts. They are brightly lit, often are open later than other restaurants, and their bathrooms are routinely cleaned. Restaurants are given a government required sanitation rating (in Beijing anyway), which are often displayed out front by the entrance. I have seen both McDonalds and KFCs that scored "A" ratings. Most other restaurants I think usually get B.
So yeah, maybe this factors into their ridiculous popularity too?
KFC was one of the first western chain restaurants to open in China, 3 years before McDonalds, which is a HUGE lead in this market, so they have a bigger stake in the market and also better brand recognition. KFC has some 2000+ stores in 450 cities, while McDs has 950 or so currently.
Also, people in China prefer chicken "hanbao" over beef (ever notice that McDs in China feature a lot more chicken sandwiches?) and KFC has done a lot more to cater to local Chinese tastes (they were the first to offer delivery in Shanghai, they tailor the menu more for local tastes - chicken sandwiches made with dark leg meat over chicken breasts; mala seasoning; traditional breakfast stuff like youtiao; rice and chicken dishes, etc.
YUM! Brands, the company that owns KFC (and a ton of other stuff) also owns Pizza Hut which is another great example of tailoring to the market.
These are the main reasons why there are a lot more KFCs here than any other fast food chain. Hope this helps!
In Canada KFC is priced higher than other fast food chain like McDonald's and Burger King but in China it is priced almost the same as McDonald's. The strategy works! If KFC deploys same kind of strategy in Canada it may well compete with McDonald's.
I learned the other day that KFC in China is way healthier than its Canadian counterpart... something about adapting the menu to give it a "Chinese taste". They also have those coupons.
Is it just marketing, or is there truth in those claims?
I've seen some KFC ads and wow, they really want to project a different image compared to america! While in China they serve soup, back in the US we have the Double-down. Not sure if it's just marketing, but the menu here is definitely better for the belly!