- Title: CHINA: AMERICAN-STYLE FAST FOOD JOINTS BOOM
- Date: 27th June 1998
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (RECENT) (RTV) CU WOMAN EATING BURGER 0.05 SCU CHILD WITH MCDONALD'S HAT ON / SCU MAN EATING /SCU PEOPLE EATING (3 SHOTS) 0.17 SLV PEOPLE SERVING FOOD 0.23 SCU MCDONALD'S SIGN/MV PEOPLE SERVING FOOD (2 SHOTS) 0.31 SCU CHILDREN PLAYING IN PLAY AREA (3 SHOTS) 0.46 SLV PAN EXTERIOR MCDONALD'S/SCU MORE PEOPLE EATING (2 SHOTS) 1.01 SCU TIM LAI, PRESIDENT OF BEIJING MCDONALD'S FOOD COMPANY LIMITED BEING INTERVIEWED 1.06 SCU TIM LAI SAYING "ALSO MCDONALD'S IS NOT ONLY REPRESENTATIVE OF QUALITY, SERIVCE AND CLEANLINESS, ALSOTHEY CAN FIND FRIENDS HERE, HAVE FUN HERE, LET THEIR KIDSPLAY WITH OUR PLAYLAND, TOYS, EVERYTHING." (ENGLISH) 1.23 SLV INTERIOR/PEOPLE EATING /SCU CHILD EATING SUNDAE (4 SHOTS) 1.46 SCU WOMAN SAYING "I REALLY LIKE EATING HERE AND HE DOES TOO. EVERYTIME I ASK HIM WHAT HE WANTS TO EAT, HE SAYS MCDONALD'S!" (MANDARIN) 1.52 SCU MAN SAYING "I DON'T REALLY LIKE EATING HERE BUT KIDS LOVE IT." (MANDARIN) 2.01 SCU OLD MAN SITTING ON BENCH WITH MODEL OF RONALD MCDONALD 2.12 SLV HARD ROCK CAFE EXTERIOR SIGN ABOVE DOOR READS "NO DRUGS AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS ALLOWED" (ENGLISH) 2.17 SCU INTERIORS
- Embargoed: 12th July 1998 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Business,General,Health,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAE6CVCLBEFE4HE2OIILRRIZUY5
- Story Text: If U.S.President Bill Clinton, a long time fast food junkie, feels the urge for a good old American hamburger during his trip to China, he won't have to look far.
American-style fast food joints are enjoying a boom in China - luring in the younger generation who are developing a taste for fries and burgers.
Beijing's residents can't enough of them.Burgers, fries, you name it, they love it.
America's most well-known cultural export - fast-food - is taking China by storm, giving noodlehouses a run for their money.
McDonald's, which opened its flagship Beijing restaurant in 1992, now boasts 48 outlets serving up cheeseburgers and french fries to a city more famous for Peking duck and pork buns.
If Clinton fancies a nibble at one of McDonald's outlets in Beijing, he will be at the back of a hungry queue with more and more attracted by the famous golden arches.
President of Mcdonald's in Beijing, Tim Lai, says people are not just attracted by the food and cleanliness - but by the facilities provided for children.
One woman, accompanied by her child tucking into a creamy sundae, said every time she asked her child where he wanted to eat he said "McDonald's".
But the fast food companies have a harder time converting adults away from traditional rice dishes.This man said he only came to McDonald's because his child enjoyed the food - he wasn't such a fan.
Many Chinese say they are tired of the surly staff and grimy kitchens all-too-common in local eateries.
And flashy decor is a major selling point.
Nicholas Ong, General Manager of the cafe, said that for many regulars, the look was more important than the food.
"We immediately win the first war because you come in, you look at the atmosphere, it must be good right, an then you like the place, the place is clean.Wow." Some customers see a visit to American food outlets as a way of getting closer to the American way of life.
But while the boom may be good news for the United States, nutritionists are becoming alarmed at the growing rate of obesity among Chinese children.
Fast food like fries, burgers and pizzas have been blamed for the trend and at schools in Beijing, junk food addicts are put through a range of gruelling exercises to fight the flab.
While Clinton's trip may give American flagship outlets a public relations boost, children like this are a reminder that every mouthful carries with it a high price. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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