A persuasive postion paper on Fast food, burger king VS McDonalds - Essay Example

Like it or not, fast food is a reality of modern life and modern living. For busy people on the go, fast food is difficult to beat when one considers convenience and price. Burger King and McDonalds may not offer much in the way of dining ambiance or nutritional value, but the popularity of these restaurants over the years has proven that they have a place in our society. But are all fast food restaurants created equally? Some would argue that all fast food is the same, namely, greasy burgers served with greasier fries and something carbonated to drink.

Others would counter that the discerning diner will detect real differences between fast food franchises when flavor, promotions and dining experience are considered. As one of these discerning consumers, I feel considerable differences can be found when comparing two fast food franchises such as Burger King and McDonalds. McDonalds is truly a ground –breaking enterprise. Global in scope and backed by decades of success, this fast food giant has set the standard for all others for many years.

This fact is apparent in McDonald’s popularity and profits (Associated Press). But like an old shoe that’s been worn too much, McDonald’s has a sole that is wearing thin. The greatest problem is flavor of the food. True, it has been consistent for many decades, but that’s the problem. While other eateries have been innovative in positive ways, McDonalds seems to be stuck in a flavor rut. They are constantly introducing new items, like burritos and iced coffee, but they just seem to taste like everything else they already sell.

Perhaps this can be attributed to the predictability of the promotions McDonalds tend to run. Cheap plastic gizmos of the latest blockbuster movie for the kids and sweepstakes games like monopoly are old and tired. They just add to a dated feeling present on the menu and in the store. McDonalds seems to have kept none of the nostalgia that has made it a traditional favorite while at the same time not really moving forward with anything truly innovative for years. Burger King, on the other hand, has made great strides in producing outstanding flavor results on its menu.

The best innovation isn’t really an innovation at all. They simply offer fresh tomatoes, lettuce and onions on all of their burgers as a standard feature. They haven’t started making new products. Instead, they focus on doing a better job on giving their existing products the best flavor possible. Burger King also offers fewer promotional items and the ones that they do offer are more tuned to today’s tastes. First is the omnipresent cardboard crown. Who doesn’t want to be a king or queen?

Though they have been around for a long time, the cardboard crown is still a winner for Burger King because it caters to the egomaniac within us all. The quality of plastic toys offered at Burger King is also better than at McDonalds, resulting in a better dining experience for little kids. The overall dining experience is more positive at Burger King as well. My experience has been that everything from the service to the professionalism of the staff is tops at Burger King. I have yet to eat at a Burger King where the staff has been rude or the floors have been dirty.

This is not the case at McDonalds. There seems to be a sense of optimism and pride that permeates the Burger King franchises I have visited. Fast food may be considered monolithic and low brow by some people’s standards. I have not found this to be the case. There are differences between Burger King and McDonalds when one considers flavor, promotions and overall dining experience. So, if you have to eat fast food, why would you eat bad fast food? I have found Burger King to be the clear winner when compared to McDonalds, hands down.

Works CitedAssociated Press. "Fast-food leader serves up 11.7% profit gain." seattlepi.com. Seattle, 10 March 2008.