(Fotorech/Pixabay)
Have you noticed some new faces in the fast food market recently? Something called Jollibee’s? A firefighter-themed sandwich shop? You’re not alone. The Canadian fast food market has been infiltrated, and this is just the beginning.
Canada has a fascinating history with fast food. One of our most enduring cultural institutions is a coffee shop turned quick-service restaurant, Tim Hortons. But if we’re being honest, most of the grease-soaked slop we enjoy comes from our neighbors to the south. McDonald’s has been in Canada for nearly 60 years. Burger King has its international expansion roots in a 1969 Canadian location, and A&W Canada has evolved into an unrecognizable alternative to its American counterpart, which most consider to be the superior of the two. However, after the major fast food institutions established themselves in Canada, there was relative quiet for a time. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, a second wave of the invasion had begun.
Jersey Mike’s, Shake Shack, Firehouse Subs, Jimmy John’s, and Chick-fil-A are just a few of the new chains popping up across the nation. Heck, I’d wouldn’t be surprised if In & Out decided to open up shop here. So, why have the next generation of fast food giants set their sights on Canada? Well, apparently, we’ve got just the market they’re looking for.
Think about it, we’re in the midst of a population boom, which of course means an available workforce, and an expanding customer base. The cost-of-living crisis is in full swing, so of course, the cheaper alternatives will be popular. Lastly, where’s the competition? Besides the tried-and-true American classics that’ve been around for ages, Canada doesn’t have a massive domestic fast food market. Besides Tim’s, what exactly do we have? As far as I know, people aren’t clamoring for Harvey’s anymore, they want the latest and greatest innovations from land of excess.
Should we let these foreign intruders take over our taste buds? I don’t think so. There’s already enough fast food to go around, expanding the market can only mean one thing: An even unhealthier country. The scars of the fast food epidemic are in plain view in America, with the CDC claiming that the prevalence of obesity in adults is a staggering 40.3%. In Canada, things are better, but not by much. In 2021, 29.5% of adults were classified as obese. If we open the floodgates once more to foreign fast food, we might be doomed to the same fate as our southern neighbors. So what can we do? If fast food is the most convenient and cheapest option for you, there are healthier alternatives. They don’t have the same numbers as the giants, but if you look, you’ll find them. Freshii, a Canadian chain, is well known for serving health-focused options and has expanded rapidly in its 20-year existence, with locations in countries across the globe. But Freshii’s menu isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so where should you go? Somewhere local might be a good idea. First-rate restaurants are abundant everywhere, so why not choose one of them? The food is often of higher quality, and supporting them helps our economy grow, independent of American conglomerates. What’s not to love?
The next time you see a “Coming Soon” ad for a brand-new American chain, take a moment to consider the choice you’re making. Is there a better alternative? The answer is almost always yes.
Written by Noah Schmidt
Contact: nschmidt20@my.bcit.ca