Belgium Big Macs and Burger King

Submitted by 20yearzee on Wed, 2008/03/19 - 16:29.

Well, just back from visiting Belgium, Luxembourg and Amsterdam.

I can happily report that both McDonalds and Burger King are doing quite well across the pond. I have never seen a bigger, more elaborate Burger King than I saw along the motorway to Brussels - here you can still have it your way! At McDonalds, meanwhile, the $1 value meal is the 1 euro meal. That means it cost me $1.20 or so given the current exchange rate. They also include some sort of liquid yogurt in the kids meals....not that appealing, really. And, guess what? The french fries at Mickey D's (I always thought they were really good) are not even close to the frites you can get most everywhere in Belguim - they eat theirs with a special mayonnaise (and it it goooooood!).

I found it interesting how few franchise operations I saw. I did see a Midas in Brussels, and several Pizza Huts lurking in the shadows...but overall, American franchises just don't seem to catch on over there, or at least it seems that way by my scientific research (ie; driving around).

It seems that in these countries, the independence of having your own name on the door is more important than the franchise, and the reputation of the joint is the key to success.

In fact, I think being unique in these countries is preferred - and having a common identity is almost a bad thing.

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Touring Europe

Submitted by Bob Frankman on Thu, 2008/03/20 - 06:07.

Zee,

Touring Europe? Some people have all the fun. Good for you. So McD has a €1 value meal there. Now converting it to the weak dollar and the adding value added tax, that comes out to about US$5,000, right?

I have images of Europe still knowing pretty much small mom & pops. But the EU is supposedly providing more of a single market for European businesses. Do you see evidence of indigenous chains, e.g. Brut's Belgian Chocolates? Any local big box retailers?

Seeing Europe is highly recommended!

Submitted by 20yearzee on Thu, 2008/03/20 - 06:41.

During my limited time in Belguim, I did see a "big box" in Brussels, but it was in a four story building in the middle of a very busy downtown area.  Because it was attached to all of the other buildings (as is the norm in this area), you would have to know what it was or you would walk right by.

If you picture a five story Foleys, with a Best Buy on the top floor, you would have a good idea of how this looked. I spent most of my time on the top floor, while my family shopped for shoes, etc.  Very high quality stuff there, and quite expensive.

You are correct that Europe is still be a place where mom and pop thrive. There are some well known names, especially in the chocolates area (Godiva, etc) and you do see those shops all over, but I don't know if they are owned by the companies or zees.

Obviously, the auto franchises are thriving - these were some of the largest facilities I saw, and they tended to have five or six different makes.

The pleasure of Belgium, and the Benelux countries in general, is that of being able to pop into a little sidewalk cafe, have an espresso, and enjoy such great personal service, many times from the proprietor himself. I did not see a single Starbucks anywhere other than US airports (although I did see several in Paris last year.....)

If you have not been lately, you should go and see this for yourself, but it is indeed quite expensive for those of us exchanging dollars right now.

Does the BK in Belgium say it in French?

Submitted by RichardSolomon on Thu, 2008/03/20 - 06:41.

Come vous voulez, n'est pas? Veuillez le double viande avec fromage, laitue, tomate et tout les autre accoutrements? De grandes frites,est bien? Et que voulez vous boir avec ca?

I can never quite appreciate why someone would go elsewhere and eat at an American franchise they probably don't often patronize at home. You come home and tell all your friends that you ate at BK/McD in Europe and they look at you like you're some kind of nut. I know folks who come home with pictures of the McD menu board and think it's just wonderful that the thing is printed in French. DUH!

Does the BK in Germany give it to you your way, or do they tell you what you are going to eat? Hier gibts nur was wir vollen - Sie mussen essen was ist heute in ordnung! 

  --

Richard Solomon, FranchiseRemedies.com,  has over 45 years experience with franchise litigation and crisis management. He is a graduate of The Citadel and The University of Michigan Law School

Didn't, wouldn't couldn't

Submitted by 20yearzee on Thu, 2008/03/20 - 07:09.

bring myself to eat at either of these places while there, but did pop in to see how they differed from the US places (and use the "toilette" , for which you have to pay .30 E.)

I am sure that in Germany, it is have it "our" way, instead, but I did not get there to see.

and, even with the ability not to waste film in the new digital age, I did not take photos of these fine eateries.

But, Richard, the food was teriffic everywhere else!

Europe

Submitted by Bubba Sparky on Thu, 2008/03/20 - 07:42.

Spend some time in Germany during the Christmas season.  Walking around Nuremberg in the snow, getting roasted chestnuts and Gluhwein from vendors while watching Christmas fireworks - cannot be beat.  Also, the pommes frittes are so much better in Europe, and their mayo dipping sauces - delicious.

I remember driving in some rural town in Italy near dinner time, not realizing that their concept of when to eat dinner differed vastly from mine, and most Americans.  Stopped at some small diner, knocked on their door (confused a bit as to why they were closed at dinner time), and after some awkward introductions, was invited in.  Even though they were not scheduled to open for a couple of hours, they honestly appeared excited to whip up a simple 5 course meal.  Was absolutely delicious and relatively cheap, we sat and talked to them in a mixture of German, French and Italian for hours.  Can honestly say I value this memory more than the fleeting glimpses of famous art pieces at the museums in Paris and Florence.  Its too bad most concepts of European vacations involve structured tours of only certain areas - I think that is missing most of the point.

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