Entry 5

What interested me the most so far in Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser is in chapter2. Schlosser viewed Ray Kroc and Walt Disney’s weird bumpy relationship as well as each man’s rise to fame as well as the intricate profitable methods of advertising to children.

Both Kroc and Disney were born in Illinois a year apart, they both dropped out of high school, they severed together in World War 1, they moved to southern California after the war. Years later they both found ways to market their products to kids. Before Kroc involved himself with McDonald’s he had variety of careers, like in 1954 he was selling milk-shake mixers and the McDonald brothers needed eight. He convinced the brothers to sell him the right to franchise McDonald’s. They agreed and once that happen Kroc sent a letter to Disney asking if there would be any room for McDonald’s in Disney’s new park. It never worked out. Disney wanted to rise up the Fries so they would be able to get a profit off of it and Kroc disagreed.  Disney quickly developed clever and efficient marketing strategies like creating an atmosphere in which visitors felt as though they had escaped the real world, procuring corporate sponsorship, as well as coining the synergy strategy. Ray Kroc also worked on his own marketing strategies. He was more word of mouth, until Ronald McDonald was discovered by bozo the clown. Later on Ronald began to rival Mickey in name recognition.

In the 80’s marketing strategies aiming for children became a big thing. Marketing to children aimed at urging kids starting at the age of 2 to persuade their guardians to come in McDonald’s and now McDonald have gained new customers by that kid bringing in their grandparents or parents.. The marketing extends well beyond television ad campaigns and now includes play land, toys and cross promotion. McDonald’s has gone as far as to promote itself as a “Trusted Friend,” because their care about their customers well-being. I remember when I was younger and my mother always through my birthday party at McDonald’s for 3 years straight. To me it was heaven because they would give you toys when you bought a meal and then they would have all of McDonald’s characters come out and sing happy birthday to me. We would sing and dance and then we would go play in there play land inside of McDonald’s. Once I got older McDonald’s stopped that. Now certain McDonald’s has the play land. It was paradise to me, you got to eat, got a free toy and go and play in play land. Now any kid that sees McDonald’s they want it and really find ways to make it happen. McDonald’s to me is the the most convent fast food place especially when you’re on a highway and you see that big M standing tall.

Ray Kroc and Walt Disney did a good job on ways to market their band to kids. Especially the both have characters to brand their company that kids will always recognize where ever they are.

"Your Trusted Friend"

In this chapter, Schlosser talks about Ray Kroc and Walt Disney’s complicated relationship as well as each man’s progress to fame. This chapter also considers profitable ways of advertising to children. Ray Kroc worked on his own marketing strategies. He would tell people he was really into show business, and not the restaurant. Ronald McDonald was inspired by Bozo the Clown. Soon Ronald began to rival Mickey in name recognition. Schlosser discusses marketing strategies for children. Marketing to children has become an art, so kids can have the urge to persuade their guardians in specific ways as well as developing customers for life. This marketing extends well beyond television ad campaigns and includes playlands, toys, and cross-promotion. McDonald’s has gone so far as to promote itself as a “Trusted Friend,” suggesting that it cares about its customers’ well-being.

chapter 1 "founding Fathers"

In the first chapter of "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser, he talks about the founding fathers and how they all got started on opening their food restaurants. The main idea of this book is the value fast food embodies, and the world it has made. It all started with Carl N. Karcher who is one of the fast food industry’s pioneers.  He lived and grew up in upper Sandusky Ohio until his uncle offered him a job in Anaheim, California.  While in California he fell in love with a women name Margaret. They got married in 1939 and had their first child within that year. At that time car was working for a bakery and he was delivering bread to restaurants and markets in west L.A. Carl heard that a hotdog cart was for sell and decided to buy it. He kept his job at the bakery and hired two young boys to work is cart during the hours he was delivering. He ended up having enough money to buy a second hot dog cart which Margaret often ran herself.

American food

In this passage the author Dr. David Acheson states that Americans have one of the safest food supplies in the world. F.D.A (The Food and Drug Administration) is a company that works closely with federal, state, and local agencies, private companies and consumers make it even safe. I don't thinks American food is safe. People put a lot of chemicals in the animals and fruits and vegetables to make them grow a lot faster. It taste different to most people that know how fresh food taste like and starting to make a
lot of people get sick. Especially a lot of people are catching cancer. There is some people that i know who go to other countries and eat their fresh vegetable and fruit but when they come to America they seem to get sick. I have an 112 Year old uncle who complains to me almost all the time about the milk he drinks and the fruits he eats and how distasteful it is. and how much chemicals they put in it.  In this passage the author expresses how the F.D.A helps to keep American food supplies safe.

Meaning of food.

  Every now and than i make myself a meal. Which is just vegetable. Kale, Broccoli, spinach, zucchini, red onions, red and green peppers with some seasoning stirred fried. The best thing about that meal is its easy fast and very healthy. I recently started a new diet where i eat no meat beside sea food. So everyday my meal consist of fruit, vegetables, water, and nuts. Now that i don't get as full as i used to when i ate meat i feel like i snack more than i'm actually eating a meal. I always make sure to drink lots of water so that my digestive system runs smoothly.
  Ever since my two younger brothers moved to Atlanta with my dad, family dinners haven't been as exciting as they used to. Now it leaves just my 5 year old brother me and my mother. we don't sit together as a family or have much to talk about eating our meals like we used to do. Now that i'm older i normally eat outside food or cook myself a lazy quick 5 minute meal. Growing up with my father always cooking us meal when i was younger because he is a chief made me end up still wanting to still have that spoiled child life. When my whole family was around our best meals were spaghetti and lasagna with garlic bread. I never worked in a food place and i don't think i would want to as much as i am not the biggest fan of cooking, I love the smell of good food and tasting different types of food and cultural food especially.