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Arrival of KFC and Pizza Hut in Durbar Marg - behind the curve
But beyond style I think it would serve us well to learn from the mistakes of others and not repeat them. Nepal has plenty of its own problems - lets not import other countries problems on top of that. I've heard people claim very proudly that we will now have a KFC and Pizza Hut in Durbar Marg. I guess it's some measure that we've "arrived" and are worthy enough of such enterprises. But the very opposite is true - fast food companies tricked western countries decades ago and a large percentage of their population is now obese. As their own consumers are getting smarter about their health (the people in the US who still eat at KFC and Pizza Hut are now mostly poor students, homeless people, and uneducated immigrants) these fast food companies now need to expand to maintain their profits... hello Nepal! We in Nepal may be poorer than many countries but at least we're skinny and hot! Spread the word. KFC + Pizza Hut = Fat.
Another area where we're behind the curve is cars. Cars are a status symbol for most Nepalis. Never mind that most commutes are less than a mile and that Kathmandu is a tiny city within a 3 mile radius everyone insists on driving. Paris, one of the wealthiest and chic cities in the world now has a resurgence of bicycles - they're great for your health and great for the environment. Must we wait another 20 years before we realize that wealthy cities are ditching their cars for their bicycles and follow suit? Must we all get fat and die of heart disease before we realize that a KFC and Pizza Hut is not something to be proud of?
I could go on and on about all the mistakes Nepalis are repeating years after the same mistakes were committed in other countries. Excessive borrowing/mortgages to buy big houses sound familiar? Poor building standards in an earthquake zone? I don't know what all the solutions are but I for one am going to push all my friends and family to avoid the new KFC and Pizza Hut arrivals like the diseases that they are.
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Comments
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sradda
"But that's ok - if everyone around you is wearing last years fashion it works"...hahaha...I'm amused that you noticed this =D Beyond fashion, though, is the lifestyle we attempt to embody...fastfood and cars are the perfect example of what we are striving for without considering the long-term ramifications that the "developed" world is trying to come to terms with today. Spreading the word is only more important because there is the greater agenda to mould the mentality of Kathmanuites.
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Bikalpa Paudel
Guilty pleasures. I would enjoy going to KFC or Pizza Hut on special occasions, like I go to other restaurants. KFC is not the culprit, its our attitude.
People take a lot of fast food here too. Might not be from big names, might be from the roadside thela but still we do.
KFC wont be a success here, we are poor people. In developed nations, fast food was/is a cheap and easy alternative for most people. Here, its a rare treat.
So I doubt KFC will be a problem at all. Most of us already live short lives(compared to foreigners), eat unhealthy (tanna bhaat, ghiu, masala) and aren't rich enough to pick up a lunch at KFC every now and then.
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trinly
I appreciate your post, however wanted to comment your statement "We in Nepal may be poorer than many countries but at least we're skinny (the girls) and hot!". Rather than being skinny, I would encourage people to look healthy. We all have different kind of body types and for somebody, being healthy and balanced with their body doesn't necessarily mean they look so "skinny and hot" as in the often unnatural images media world is giving us. As fast food (& fast clothes) companies are arriving Nepal, so are many other Western images of lifestyle, looks and body. I have already noticed the pressure these images put for some young nepali's, especially for girls and women. So instead of praising how skinny someone is (even more if it's because of lack of essential nourishmnet), I would praise someone who has healthy body image, no matter if it doesn't match with unrealistic media ideals.
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sthapit
@trinly - regardless of whether skinny is natural or not a lot of guys, me included, find it hot. has the media brainwashed us all into thinking this way? probably. but it doesn't change the fact that most guys find skinny girls hot. if a guy sees a fat girl he sees a fat girl and not someone with a healthy body image.
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anonymous
I think obesity is not the biggest concern. Just think about what KFC really means to Nepal. I dont think its going to make Nepalese fat. A couple of KFCs opening here and there isnt going to contribute significantly to obesity. After all who can really afford to go to KFC. Its a few rich people in Kathmandu. By few I mean thousands because that is still few considering the total population of Nepal. KFC is not going to thrive here because there is no demand for it and they are not going to have a big enough market to make prices low. Its rich people who can afford it that are going to go to KFC and they are obviously not going to eat at KFC everyday. The idea why fast food works is because it is cheap and quick and that is not going to happen in Nepal. KFC restaurants and McDonalds usually tend to come out as classy restaurants in third world countries where rich people go and eat once in a while. The problem that I see is that while the few rich people in our country see KFC as a sign that we have arrived, it does not mean any thing good for the rest of the country. Considering that a majority of the Nepalese population is drenched in poverty and does not have access to basic needs.. considering we dont have the basic infrastructures of development... what is the point of thinking we have arrived just because we have a kfc restaurant now. Infact we are sending our money abroad. Not only is the over priced menu going to ensure that the entrepreneur will get a fat chunk of the slice .. but the money will also go abroad. Im sure they have to pay KFC steep fees for franchising.
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sthapit
"Not only is the over priced menu going to ensure that the entrepreneur will get a fat chunk of the slice .. but the money will also go abroad."
@anonymous - one reason KFC has done so well around the world is actually that their prices are low - even in developing countries. For example I saw an ad for a Subway sandwich in India for Rs 50. This is why local fast foods have a hard time competing with the fast giants of the world. When you have scale you can push down prices. As far as I know KFC in Kathmandu is bringing their chicken from Brasil for example and I doubt they would have done that if the chicken in Nepal is cheaper. Your local fast food restaurant is not going to have the means to import chicken from Brasil.
It's like everything else - the rich get richer and the big get bigger. If more international chains come to Nepal I think local restaurants will have a hard time competing - not just one taste and atmosphere, but also on price.
anonymous
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Biplav
Here is an article in Republica that lists prices.
I'm certainly not doing cartwheels because a KFC and Pizza Hut are opening in Kathmandu, but one positive is that it quiets the Nepal Naysayers at least for one day. I've met too many people whose full time hobby is belittling Nepal - we're poor, dirty, nothing will ever change, there is no potential, it's impossible to do anything in the country...
The fact that KFC and Pizza Hut franchisees are prepared to invest in Nepal (and they must have done quite a bit of research) can only be looked at as a positive. Also, as the USA Charge d'Affairs said, the fact that such international brands are present in Nepal might temp others to invest in the country as well and inspire local entrepreneurs.
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Bikalpa Paudel
@sthapit
Indian Rs 50 [or even if it is in NRs] is not a price normal middle-class people will pay for a "sandwich" here. I'd better get that plate of Buff Momo for Rs 25.
"Bread" is not really considered as a money-worthy food here, bhaat is.
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Tajim
Sucks. they lifted the menu directly from India.. Thats utter plagrism.
You can atleast have one nepali modeled item with a nepali name.
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Vibrax
Hey! buddy nice post. However, i have some doubts.
it's fashion of Nepalses people to flock the new openings like Wildfire and then slowly the crowed gets thinner.
But, here we are talking about fooding chains that reflects the lifestyle of USA, and Kathmandu is a city over 3 million population with more than 30% of age under 35. No wonder people are influenced by KFC and PIZZAHUT.
if you talk about price burger at Nanglo and ND's are not so cheap as well. In fact, burgers at bakery and nanglo are even expensive.
Before you make comments about the Prices at KFC and NANGLO, please do check the premium price lists of nanglo and bakery too. You will soon find out.
Likely, here everyone is talking about obesity and getting fatter. Mind you! no nepalese can afford (or go daily) to KFC and Pizzahut. More than 95% of the KFC/ Pizzahut lovers will turn into these stores not more than 1-2 times a week.Mostly at the weekends.
Secondly, be optimistic, democracy means giving people choices. Arrival of such international multichains will induce a sense of completion on the market. One with the best food quality/prices and proper service will win the race. Nepalses just cannot continue to make labour strikes and pardons in the name of 'political environment' to excuse themselves from international trends.
Likely, tourists and taste lovers will also get additional variety of international taste here in Nepal.It's good if you think in that way.Few days back before the opening I saw tourists wondering around the KFC outlet and I asked them "Why are you wondering around? it's normal for you guys isn't it?" and the answered "Feels a bit more homely to see KFC & Pizzahut here."
The problem with all Nepalses is that We feel happy and proud to criticize others but do nothing ourselves. For instance, if some nepalses sone goes abroad(like USA,Europe) and works on Dishwashing at McDonalds that we feel proud cuz our son is on USA and works on McDonald. But if the same son is working on a rural village of our country as a simple engineer than we feel abit shy and humiliated. Isn't that funny?
by the way..someone here asked of Price list of KFC . So here it is
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K F C
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Meal Type Price
Veggie Snacker (Burger) Rs 69
Chicken Snacker(Burger) Rs 79
Hot wings (3 pc) Rs 119
Boneless chicken strips
with Salsa Rs 149
Zinger Burger Rs 149
Veggie Feast Meal (Burger) Rs 209
Zinger Meal (Burger) Rs 259
Chicken Meal (3 pc) Rs 339
Chicken Large Bucket (12 pc) Rs 899
Hot Wings Large Bucket (40 pc) Rs 899
=======================
* The menu prices above are excluding taxes.
A Service Tax of 10% + VAT 13% (Total 23%)will incur on the prices mentioned above.
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koji
Hello healthy food lovers.
Here is my 2 cents worth. KFC and Pizza hut are not per se responsible for getting you fat! Think more about food ingredients.
Certain things are better for you than others. The closer they are to their natural form in their on-a-plate form, the better.
Take polished rice. For over half a century now Nepalis, Chinese and others have been removing the husk (has to be done) and then the bran and the germ, which contains all the nutrients. The nutrients get sold to be fed to animals. What you have left is white rice which is basically sugar and nothing more. Sounds crazy no?
The other problem with this is lack of movement. I assume none of the readers here will plough a field today. But equally you may hardly walk anywhere, sit for most of the day, watch some TV and still have a nice pile of rice in the evening. Maybe.
Another issue is oils that get used. Soya and sunflower oil aren't healthy. They come out of a factory as cheaply as possible. Mustard oil has a good ratio of omega 3 and 6 oils which are necessary for cell growth, particularly in the brain.
Ask your momo guy or gal next time which oil he uses and which flour and how much salt he uses. Then ask yourself if the momo is really healthy.
1 in 5 people over 40 in Kathmandu reportedly have a diabetes condition. Perhaps Nepali food is more like KFC and Pizza hut junk than we realise.
Definitely some awareness needs raising about this matter. Look up Alden Towler's article on this (rice) in Food and Wine magazine.
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Kailashbuki
Absolutely true!!! This article well depicts our social mentality. In fact, the opening of KFC Pizza Hut is over hyped. It's not that we don't eat junk foods but should we really be proud just because we will now be getting chicken items from a company with big name? Most among us have become crazy that we blindly follow western styles and even forgot to realize what is right or wrong.
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sthapit
@koji - are you seriously arguing that providing [relatively] cheap and fatty processed foods with lots of marketing money behind it will not contribute to obesity? by saying that nepalis have an unhealthy diet and exercise poorly you're pretty much throwing your hands up in defeat and saying "we eat badly anyway. eating more bad food is not going to harm us".
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koji
@sthapit
No. All I am saying is first work out what healthy and unhealthy actually mean.
Only then can you put KFC and pizza hut into perspective.
I would never eat at either place - have done in the distant past but once was enough. Say we all boycotted both places - where would we go instead?
If KFC and Pissy hat give rise to a debate about healthy eating and the consequences of eating crap, all the better.
There is a much bigger issue here than ad-powered pseudo-glamorous western trash food joints.
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sthapit
@koji - it's not that complicated. unhealthy foods, for the most part, means excessive calories, cholesterol, and sodium which is what most processed foods contain. kfc and pizza hut are the definition of unhealthy. what is the bigger issue you talk about? obesity and its health consequences seems like pretty big coincidences to me.
if we boycotted both places we could cook healthy and tasty foods at home :) which i plan to continue doing.
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koji
I mean it is not only American style obesity that is the issue.
White rice is processed food.
White flour is processed food.
Animal products are sources of cholesterol (egg, meat - particularly red meat), cheese) as well as messed-about-with industrial oils which you find everywhere, as these are the cheap ones.
Ask a dietician or diabetes clinic. There was a big problem in Kathmandu before KFC and Pizza hut arrived and there would still be a big problem if they both collapsed tomorrow due to shoddy building practices or any other reason.
I am with you on the boycott however. Just wish I could cook.
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kristin
Baskin Robbins used to be on Durbar Marg a few years ago, so KFC is not the first international franchise in KTM. It closed (lack of business). Nirula's had better ice cream, anyway! And about fashion? What's wrong with the traditional Nepali attire? Kurta Surwal are lovely and cheap.
this is a good post. An awareness campaign or two in ktm abt these things are definitely worth it. Good work spreading the word.
11 months ago