China Explained: How American Fast Food Chains Like KFC and McDonald’s Localized to Win Over China
How American fast food came to China, and how China subsequently fell in love with the likes of KFC and McDonald's
0
0
Mar 12, 2019
China Explained is a RADII series breaking down the basics about Culture, Innovation and Life in the country today. Click through for previous posts on shared bikes, Singles’ Day, and what goes down in one minute on the Chinese internet, and check out our first China Explained video below.
Though a Big Mac might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Chinese cuisine”, fast food has become a popular staple since gaining a foothold in the Chinese diet in the late ‘80s. Brands like KFC and McDonald’s were quick to take advantage during the period when China opened its market to the outside world: when the first Colonel Sanders franchise opened its doors in Beijing’s Qianmen neighborhood in 1987, more than 2,000 buckets of fried chicken were sold in a single day.
Over the following decades, Western fast food has taken on Chinese characteristics, with McDonald’s slinging specialty items like mantou sliders, KFC introducing fried bread sticks and other traditional breakfast items, and chains such as White Castle and Taco Bell opening surprisingly upscale venues around Shanghai.
Watch our latest China Explained video to learn how your favorite drive-through takeout made its way into China’s hearts (and waistlines).
—
You might also like:
Join the Conversation
0
comments
#Film
#Academy Awards
“A win for political correctness,” wrote one Weibo user in response to ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’s historic haul at the Oscars 2023 Read More
#plant-based meat
A recent Peking University study found that almost 100% of consumers in four major Chinese cities are willing to buy plant-based meat alternatives Read More
#artificial intelligence
Artists on Lofter are threatening to quit the social media platform over its new A.I. art generator, claiming that it doesn’t respect the rights of content creators Read More
Pour yourself a stiff one, we'll be with you in a minute