Fast-food: A business on the decline?

Date: 02-03-2011 2:35 am (13 years ago) | Author: Daniel Bosai
[1] 2
- at 2-03-2011 02:35 AM (13 years ago)
Online (m)
When the fast food  business crept  into the country in the early 1990s, patronising the joints became the order of the  day, as families, love birds, friends and others made efforts to join the clique. And with the rise in patronage, the modern eatery which famously began in Lagos State,  sprang up nation-wide. The trailblazer was the famous Mr Biggs, owned by the UAC Foods, Tantalizers,  Sweet Sensation,  Chicken grotto, Chicken Republic and many more followed suit.

Apart from the foreign meals dished by these outfits,  some of them  later spiced up their stable with African dishes in  order to win more customers. Local meals such as ofada (local specie of rice), amala, pounded yam, porrigde,  semovita etc were introduced at these eateries.

In spite of the promising nature, its fortunes began to dwindle. Many factors attest to this. Apart from the economic reasons,  Nigerian Tribune learnt that youths now prefer the local joints that sell the famous ‘Fresh fish pepper soup’ to the fast food joints. Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that, although most of these pepper soup joints operate mostly in the evenings,they are still being preffered by people.

Funke, an undergra-duate in a higher institution in Ibadan stated: while expressing her views on her prefered choice.” To me, if not on some occasions that one will need to attend to a first- timer, I don’t patronise fast food joints, only kids will be carried away by the announcement of a date to a fast food joint. Moreso,the awareness about processed food has also discouraged me from going there, instead I will prefer pepper soup outings.”

Apart from Funke’s experience, another reason why patronage has reduced at the joints, it was learnt, began when their owners got involved in franchise system to operate some of the branches nationwide. Nigerian Tribune learnt that the franchise was a means of giving out the right of a particular branch to an independent owner while still maintaining the brand name. Under such agreement,the franchise owner will be in charge and will be preparing meals on the menu list of the parent company.
It was also gathered that, it was in realisation of the financial implication of sustaining many branches nationwide that made the operators to look in the direction of the franchise option.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the franchise style also means that the parent company will still retain its brand name but have another  management at  the local level in place.The brand owner then gives specification of its meals to the local managers who in turn prepare the delicacies according to these specifications. However, this did not last too long before customers began to notice the difference in taste.

The implication according to Nigerian Tribune investigation has been the speedy shift in choice by customers.

A visit to some eatery joints in Ibadan, Oyo State revealed that the patronage has reduced drastically. Most of the facilities installed at the initial stage to attract customers are either damaged to be found or have been left upgraded. Apart from some of the branches in choice locations-Mokola,Challenge,Ring road,Bodija and University of Ibadan(UI) centres, which the operators still believe attract huge patronage, most eatery centres do not have the flashy facilities they were known for.

One of the joints along Oke-Ado/Molete road Ibadan after several attempts, has been closed while others visited have had to give away some of their attractive facilities to sustainance. Example of such is one branch close to Challenge road, Ibadan which for some time has been unable to renew its satellite TV recharge, and has thus been relying on local television channels for some time.

Mrs Adedeji who is a manager in one of the eatery joints in Ibadan  has this to say on the dwindling fortune of the once bubbling business.

“We’re not left out of the down turn in the economic situations in the country. Business generally in Nigeria has not been the same again in recent times. Even if you go to Alesinloye market, the market women who used to close around 5:00 p.m. now close late, thinking may be things would get better if they waited few hours more. And considering our own case, patronage has really dropped, even considering our location.”

On how the joints have been able to cope, Adedeji said only the headquarters are in a position to answer. ”Our overhead cost is far more that what we generate here. So, I don’t know how they manage to get the fund. We use an average of 200 litres of diesel daily because of the epileptic power situation.”

To survive the trend, the owners have been more vigilant to check illegal meetings without patronage because the queues are no longer there again. Another branch at the Mobil Bus Stop, along Ring Road Ibadan has been without air conditioning systems for more than five months now, apparently trying to reduce running cost.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that sales have dropped. But it was gathered that the management have been hiding under the guise that the air conditioning systems are faulty, a sign that business has not been as usual.


Posted: at 2-03-2011 02:35 AM (13 years ago) | Addicted Hero
- kenolis at 2-03-2011 02:50 AM (13 years ago)
(m)
fast food wka!!!
Posted: at 2-03-2011 02:50 AM (13 years ago) | Hero
Reply
- Ann4Best at 2-03-2011 09:50 AM (13 years ago)
(f)
k Undecided
Posted: at 2-03-2011 09:50 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply
- chicanorose at 2-03-2011 10:06 AM (13 years ago)
(f)
eya....................... Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed

Posted: at 2-03-2011 10:06 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- princedafe at 2-03-2011 10:16 AM (13 years ago)
(m)
too long jare
Posted: at 2-03-2011 10:16 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- pholake at 2-03-2011 11:28 AM (13 years ago)
(f)
It's normal...times have changed and when time is changing, businesses which refuse to change along with the dictates of time will become obsolete
Posted: at 2-03-2011 11:28 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- bishopdray at 2-03-2011 11:37 AM (13 years ago)
(m)
It's intresting Cool Cool Cool Cool
Posted: at 2-03-2011 11:37 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply
- Eucharia at 2-03-2011 11:39 AM (13 years ago)
(f)
too long Biko
Posted: at 2-03-2011 11:39 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply
- pholake at 2-03-2011 11:42 AM (13 years ago)
(f)
Quote from: Eucharia on  2-03-2011 11:39 AM
too long Biko

I read only the first paragraph and drew my conclusion....
Posted: at 2-03-2011 11:42 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- baby14life at 2-03-2011 12:49 PM (13 years ago)
(f)
Too long but interesting shall
Posted: at 2-03-2011 12:49 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply
- emydaddy at 2-03-2011 01:15 PM (13 years ago)
(m)
Though your post is a bit lengthy, neat mama put is so interesting and nice for health. 
Posted: at 2-03-2011 01:15 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply
- simele at 2-03-2011 02:03 PM (13 years ago)
(m)
Quote from: chicanorose on  2-03-2011 10:06 AM
eya....................... Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed Embarrassed

eya bashira
Posted: at 2-03-2011 02:03 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- sobeit at 2-03-2011 02:09 PM (13 years ago)
(m)
long tin..
Posted: at 2-03-2011 02:09 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- lanudja at 2-03-2011 02:17 PM (13 years ago)
(f)
ok
Posted: at 2-03-2011 02:17 PM (13 years ago) | Hero
Reply
- Pepesy at 2-03-2011 03:19 PM (13 years ago)
(f)
...
Posted: at 2-03-2011 03:19 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- bafyguy at 2-03-2011 04:00 PM (13 years ago)
(m)
This na novel
Posted: at 2-03-2011 04:00 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- Fashalyn at 2-03-2011 06:02 PM (13 years ago)
(f)
Quote from: pholake on  2-03-2011 11:28 AM
It's normal...times have changed and when time is changing, businesses which refuse to change along with the dictates of time will become obsolete
Gbam!!

Posted: at 2-03-2011 06:02 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- Fashalyn at 2-03-2011 06:05 PM (13 years ago)
(f)
they should accept my heart felt sympathy over their bad market, e go beta.

Posted: at 2-03-2011 06:05 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- interpo77 at 2-03-2011 10:02 PM (13 years ago)
(m)
isi ewu, nkwubi wif ugba,point and kill, fresh fish ohhhhhh--Bia nwatahhh, i richapuna onu
i remember those days in osha, those joint re really helpful
our gud african cooks has taken a big  shape all   over the nation, its wel noticed and preffered by many
but still a while when ever in nija, i try to patronise tantalizer
Posted: at 2-03-2011 10:02 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- estilizo at 3-03-2011 01:22 AM (13 years ago)
(f)
tired of reading....too long abeg

Posted: at 3-03-2011 01:22 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
[1] 2

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