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I've heard that American fast food chains in general have not done well in Italy. Is that correct?

by wrp 4y ago

fy20 4y ago
I was living in Rome in 2016/17, and at the time yes. I'm not sure if things have changed now. Even finding a place that did "generic American style BBQ" was hard enough. There was one brand with a few stores, but it was pretty bad. Of course you get the standard McDonalds and KFC, but those are everywhere... I'm not sure if my Italian colleagues ever visited them mind - I felt I'd be fired and kicked out the country if I ever mentioned I ate there - whenever I went they seemed to be full of teenagers. One time we really wanted Mexican, so we traveled to the other side of the city to visit the one of two restaurants that sold burritos. It was the worst 'Mexican' I'd ever had. The thing about Italians is they know what they like. A typical dish of Italian cuisine has few ingredients, but due to skill of the chef and the high quality fresh ingredients, they can create something amazing. That doesn't really mix well with American cuisine.
- ananiochita 4y ago
  There seems to be an unhealthy obsession to label food products as Italian -- not from "somewhere else", meaning, of course, worse, no doubt about it and don't you dare even question it. To the point where walking into a supermarket can turn into a xenophobic slap sometimes. Honestly scary. Edit : I've had the same experience with Japanese food. As far as we can tell, there are two or three real Japanese restaurants, owned by Japanese. And ONE French bakery in Rome. This is the third capital of the EU by population mind you. I mean, they literally have a border with France ! Good luck finding decent bread.
ananiochita 4y ago
Italy is one of the worst countries for business, consistently so in every study and list made about it. Starbucks ( ! ) just opened its first ( ! ) and only ( ! ) store in Rome a few months ago. It goes the same for most popular world chains. You'll find UNIQLO in France or Spain, forget about Italy. If you want to be in a place forever frozen in the seventies, go to Italy.
- ananiochita 4y ago
  For the downvoters, please provide an explanation based in facts about Italy. You probably take the statements above as an insult, but it is a description of reality ( -- some might in fact like to find a place that doesn't change much or is relatively isolated from globalization and wouldn't take this as a negative thing ). You only need to ask an Italian or anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in the country. I have, a solid decade in total, between the 70s, the 80s, the early 00s, and recently a considerable amount of time during the pandemic. I don't speak from hearsay or try to be offensive.
  - hansvm 4y ago
    > For the downvoters, please provide a rationale for why you don't like my thoughts that aligns with my thought process. Your grandparent comment seems fine enough, but I highly doubt you're going to convince anyone to engage with a defense to the contrary. Conversations about voting are already discouraged, people tend not to reply to this sort of thing, and even if they wanted to the way you've framed it sounds like there's no way to change your mind, so the rest of the people who might've attempted to explain their qualms probably won't bother with a seemingly futile effort. If you rephrased the question in a way that didn't suggest you're correct ahead of time and in a way that doesn't talk about voting I suspect you'd have a lot higher success rate. I haven't tested that yet, so caveat emptor, but I'd wager a nickel or two that in right about that anyway.
  - kop316 4y ago
    > For the downvoters, please provide an explanation based in facts about Italy. I would offer you would get less downvotes if you cited statistics or verified third party info?
- ichicoro 4y ago
  I think you're being downvoted because you're wrong and you're being smug about it. >Starbucks ( ! ) just opened its first ( ! ) and only ( ! ) store in Rome a few months ago. Uhm, there's 7 (according to Google Maps) in Milan, 2 in Turin, and at least two more someplace else (one being in Rome). Additionally, 1 of the 7 Starbucks in Milan is the only "Starbucks Roastery" in Europe. >It goes the same for most popular world chains. You'll find UNIQLO in France or Spain, forget about Italy. There's a UNIQLO store in Milan.

I've heard that American fast food chains in general have not done well in Italy. Is that correct?

by wrp 4y ago

I've heard that American fast food chains in general have not done well in Italy. Is that correct?

fy20 4y ago

I was living in Rome in 2016/17, and at the time yes. I'm not sure if things have changed now. Even finding a place that did "generic American style BBQ" was hard enough. There was one brand with a few stores, but it was pretty bad. Of course you get the standard McDonalds and KFC, but those are everywhere... I'm not sure if my Italian colleagues ever visited them mind - I felt I'd be fired and kicked out the country if I ever mentioned I ate there - whenever I went they seemed to be full of teenagers. One time we really wanted Mexican, so we traveled to the other side of the city to visit the one of two restaurants that sold burritos. It was the worst 'Mexican' I'd ever had. The thing about Italians is they know what they like. A typical dish of Italian cuisine has few ingredients, but due to skill of the chef and the high quality fresh ingredients, they can create something amazing. That doesn't really mix well with American cuisine.

ananiochita 4y ago
There seems to be an unhealthy obsession to label food products as Italian -- not from "somewhere else", meaning, of course, worse, no doubt about it and don't you dare even question it. To the point where walking into a supermarket can turn into a xenophobic slap sometimes. Honestly scary. Edit : I've had the same experience with Japanese food. As far as we can tell, there are two or three real Japanese restaurants, owned by Japanese. And ONE French bakery in Rome. This is the third capital of the EU by population mind you. I mean, they literally have a border with France ! Good luck finding decent bread.

ananiochita 4y ago

Italy is one of the worst countries for business, consistently so in every study and list made about it. Starbucks ( ! ) just opened its first ( ! ) and only ( ! ) store in Rome a few months ago. It goes the same for most popular world chains. You'll find UNIQLO in France or Spain, forget about Italy. If you want to be in a place forever frozen in the seventies, go to Italy.

ananiochita 4y ago
For the downvoters, please provide an explanation based in facts about Italy. You probably take the statements above as an insult, but it is a description of reality ( -- some might in fact like to find a place that doesn't change much or is relatively isolated from globalization and wouldn't take this as a negative thing ). You only need to ask an Italian or anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in the country. I have, a solid decade in total, between the 70s, the 80s, the early 00s, and recently a considerable amount of time during the pandemic. I don't speak from hearsay or try to be offensive.
- hansvm 4y ago
  > For the downvoters, please provide a rationale for why you don't like my thoughts that aligns with my thought process. Your grandparent comment seems fine enough, but I highly doubt you're going to convince anyone to engage with a defense to the contrary. Conversations about voting are already discouraged, people tend not to reply to this sort of thing, and even if they wanted to the way you've framed it sounds like there's no way to change your mind, so the rest of the people who might've attempted to explain their qualms probably won't bother with a seemingly futile effort. If you rephrased the question in a way that didn't suggest you're correct ahead of time and in a way that doesn't talk about voting I suspect you'd have a lot higher success rate. I haven't tested that yet, so caveat emptor, but I'd wager a nickel or two that in right about that anyway.
- kop316 4y ago
  > For the downvoters, please provide an explanation based in facts about Italy. I would offer you would get less downvotes if you cited statistics or verified third party info?
ichicoro 4y ago
I think you're being downvoted because you're wrong and you're being smug about it. >Starbucks ( ! ) just opened its first ( ! ) and only ( ! ) store in Rome a few months ago. Uhm, there's 7 (according to Google Maps) in Milan, 2 in Turin, and at least two more someplace else (one being in Rome). Additionally, 1 of the 7 Starbucks in Milan is the only "Starbucks Roastery" in Europe. >It goes the same for most popular world chains. You'll find UNIQLO in France or Spain, forget about Italy. There's a UNIQLO store in Milan.