Almost everyone has had a fast-food meal at some point. Whether it was a quick snack on the way out of town or grabbing a quick lunch or dinner. The fast-food industry is one of the most significant contributors to globalization. Many different companies compete worldwide to have the most popular fast food items. McDonald’s has been leading the way for many years, but several other companies have provided fierce competition. Although the fast-food industry is growing, it is also under constant scrutiny. Many restaurants have re-branded their images to appear more health-conscious to their patrons. They also market their items as adhering to a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, in many cases, this is merely misleading. With companies expanding on such a large scale, the quality and integrity of wholesome ingredients get compromised.
In the Philippines, Jollibee’s is a staple of fast food the offers a wide variety of fast food options. The companies business model is similar to that of McDonald’s. Jollibee’s secret to success is their conviction to honor the Filipino culture while still competing with other global fast-food companies. Their menu is innovative and offers some unique options such as mango pie, a local favorite. Jollibee has helped to strengthen the economy in the Philippines when many other businesses have struggled. “So widely popular is Jollibee’s with ordinary Filipinos that in many ways come to symbolize all that is positive about Philipino cultural identity and ingenuity.” (Matejowsky, 2019)
Matejowsky, T. (2019). Jolly Dogs and McSphagetti: Anthropological Reflections on Global/Local Fast Food Competition in the Philippines. In 1038298701 794912668 C. Counihan, 1038298702 794912668 P. V. Esterik, & 1038298703 794912668 A. Julier (Authors), Food and culture: A reader (pp. 351-362). New York, NY: Routledge.
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