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APPENDIX *

Political:
The fast food industry is a very deregulated industry. Most governments do
not do much to get involved and let the companies compete with one
another without much interference. However, there are a few bills that
impact the industry. With the number of people with cardiovascular disease,
obesity and diabetes constantly increasing, the United States government is
looking for ways to make the country healthier. In 2010, the Affordable Care
Act was passed and this bill requires companies to have nutritional
information on their standard menu items in each restaurant (Norris, 2013).
Forcing companies to present this information has shifted the trends in the
restaurant industry. Consumers are beginning to value quality and
healthiness as well as the speed they get their food, which is why we are
seeing substantial growth in the fast casual industry (Nath, 2015).
Government subsidies also play a role in the QSR industry. Countries who
hand out a large amount in agricultural subsidies generally have high fast
food consumption, and this is no coincidence (Vogli, et., al., 2013). When
subsidies are given, the cost of specific crops goes down while
simultaneously the price of groceries increases. When the price of groceries
increases, consumers are given more incentive to purchase fast food
because it is a cheaper alternative. Subsidies also impact taxes. When the
government issues more subsidies, taxes increase because the government
needs to make the money back somehow (Reidl, 2007). So, not only are
consumers spending more at the grocery store, they are also being taxed
more. Subsidies make it easy for farmers to mass produce a specific crop,
but they take money away from Americans. In a country that is still
recovering from a recession, every dollar matters. If fast food is going to
save people money, then they will choose to eat that over grocery shopping.
Subsidies also benefit most companies in the QSR industry by making beef
cheaper. Corn and Soy Beans are two of the most heavily subsidized goods in
the United States and they are largely used as animal feed for the production
of beef. So, not only is beef subsidized, the food that these animals eat is
also subsidized. These subsidies lower the price of beef and allow fast food
companies to keep their costs low and stay competitive (PCRM, 2013).
Technology:
Technology is very important to this industry. For a company to be successful
it will need to be able to take a customers order and have the food ready for
them in a very short period of time. Finding ways to increase the efficiency in
fast food restaurants is becoming more difficult and most companies are

APPENDIX *

turning towards technology to improve upon this. Some QSRs have began to
implement kiosks in their establishments. These kiosks allow the customer to
completely customize and pay for their order without having to interact with
the cashier. One food chain reported that 60% of their lunchtime transactions
are completed on the kiosks, showing that they are getting a positive public
response and are improving efficiency. Kiosks will also help cut back on labor
costs as they essentially take away the need for a cashier (Horovitz, 2016).
One QSR, Zaxbys, has discovered a way to reduce costs and food waste with
advancements in their technology. They have implemented a robotics-based
management system that drastically improves the companys efficiency. The
start of the cooking process and instructions given to employees are now
done robotically, decreasing the chances of error while simultaneously
improving the speed of the process. Improving technology is one of the few
ways these companies will be able to significantly improve efficiency which is
why we are seeing so many food chains adopt new technology (Noone, et.,
al., 2012).
References
NORRIS, J. (2013). Make Them Eat Cake. Foreign Policy, (202), 1. Retrieved
From web.a.ebscohost.com
Horovitz, B. (2016, April). Kiosks Keep Their Cool. QSR Magazine. Retrieved From
http://qsrmagazine.com/.
Noone, Breffni M., & Coulter, R. Craig (2012). Applying Modern Robotics
Technologies to Demand Prediction and Production Management in the
Quick-Service Restaurant Sectoe. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 53(2), 122133
Graham, J. (2016, May 12). Wendy's Serves Up Big Kiosk Expansion As Wage Hikes Hit Fast
Food. Retrieved September 02, 2016, from http://www.investors.com/politics/policyanalysis/wendys-serves-up-kiosks-as-wages-rise-hits-fast-food-group/
Be Businessed. History of Minimum Wage. (2016). Retrieved September 02, 2016, from
http://bebusinessed.com/history/history-of-minimum-wage/
De Vogli, R., Kouvonen, A., & Gimeno, D. (2013, September 23). The influence of market
deregulation on fast food consumption and body mass index: A cross-national time series
analysis. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/92/2/13-120287/en/

APPENDIX *

Nath, T. (2015, February 05). Fast Food Versus Fast Casual | Investopedia. Retrieved September
02, 2016, from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/020515/fast-food-versus-fastcasual.asp
Riedl, B. (2007, June). How Farm Subsidies Harm Taxpayers, Consumers, and Farmers, Too.
Retrieved September 04, 2016, from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2007/06/howfarm-subsidies-harm-taxpayers-consumers-and-farmers-too
W. (2014, March 11). Agricultural Subsidies Remain a Staple in the Industrial World. Retrieved
September 04, 2016, from http://www.worldwatch.org/agricultural-subsidies-remain-stapleindustrial-world-0
Economist. (2015, January 08). Fast-food nations. Retrieved September 04, 2016, from
http://www.economist.com/fastfood
Statista. China - hospitality industry revenue until 2015, by restaurant type | Timeline. Retrieved
September 04, 2016, from http://www.statista.com/statistics/277039/hospitality-industryrevenue-in-china-by-restaurant-type/
Gale, F. (2013, October 24). U.S. Exports Surge as China Supports Agricultural Prices. Retrieved
September 04, 2016, from http://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2013-october/us-exports-surgeas-china-supports-agricultural-prices.aspx#.V8ze-pMrIch
PCRM. (2013). Agriculture and Health Policies in Conflict: How Subsidies Tax our Health:
Government Support for Unhealthful Foods. Retrieved September 04, 2016, from
http://www.pcrm.org/health/reports/agriculture-and-health-policies-unhealthful-foods
FederalRegister. (2014, Fall). Dodd-Frank Wall Steet Reform 324 in the last year. Retrieved
September 04, 2016, from https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0910-AG57/foodlabeling-nutrition-labeling-of-standard-menu-items-in-restaurants-and-similar-retail-food-estab

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