Exclusive on Meat : 2nd largest industry in Pakistan by Prof. Dr. Noor Ahmed Memon, (Dean KASBIT).

Food is the basic necessity for all of us ing by 10% annually. Supermarkets are recently established the first ever Online and we all earn money to get this basic gaining in popularity as a shopping venue Research Panel in Pakistan, in order to necessity. A healthy diet is the basis for a and now account for about 10% of all meet the research needs of local and well-functioning body. The quickly retail food sales. In addition, Pakistan international brands. Recently, in October processed food which is being sold at var- now hosts numerous western style fast 2013, it conducted a survey ious outlets have made this much popular food chains reflecting a rising popularity Survey shows that larger proportion and in the country like Pakistan where the with such eating style. of females is visiting fast food chains than business situation are getting from bad to On an average calculation the fast their male counterparts. The results worse still do have that extra space and food business in Pakistan and the trend of proved that KFC and have flexibility for the fast food business. eating habits of the locals in the country is emerged as the most consumed fast food People of Pakistan are fond of eating and increasing almost 21% annually which chains among both the genders and also, do appreciate any new thing which is means the growth of the fast food busi- across both the age groups. Another being introduced to them and that is one ness in Pakistan is more than 20% on interesting key finding was that major reason for which various in fact all annual basis which makes it as one of the McDonalds was more popular in females the international brands are willing to fastest growing businesses not only in than in males. Reportedly, 42% females open their franchises in Pakistan and Pakistan but even in the entire world as consume McDonalds as compare to only amongst them many of them have well. 33%of males. Similarly, is the case of already made their outlets in the major Food which is prepared and served Nando’s, 21% of the female respondents cities of Pakistan. McDonalds, KFC and within a short span of time is referred to agreed to regularly visit it as compared to Hardees are few of the renowned fast as Fast Food. The fast food industry in 12% male respondents. Chicken Cottage food chains which are running success- Pakistan is undergoing an escalated ranks as the least preferred among both fully in Pakistan. boom. Despite fierce competition, this the gender and also across both age Fast Food Industry in Pakistan is the industry has managed to generate prof- groups. 2nd largest in Pakistan. accounts for 27% itability and is well-received by the local In terms of preference of fast food of its value added production and 16% masses as well. probability of exceptional among the two different age groups, an of the total employment in manufacturing growth in future as well. interesting discovery was unearthed. The sector with an estimated 180 million con- In order to gain useful insight on this survey results demonstrated that the sumers, Pakistan holds the world’s eighth industry, a cutting edge technology-ori- average frequency of visiting Fast Food largest market when it comes to fast food ented market research agency, named chains is almost once per week for both and food related business. More than Dynamic Research Consultancy, has the age groups. Even though, youngsters 1000 large scale food processing enter- prises in Pakistan. 75% of rural based food manufacturers are in so called infor- mal sector (difficulty in accessing raw material finance informal sector (difficulty in accessing raw material, finance skills, knowledge and management). Pakistan’s fast food sector is changing significantly with an inclined shift in life styles and traditional eating habits. According to the survey which was being made on the performance of the fast food business in Pakistan it was being revealed that an average consumer spends 42% of one’s income on food. Retail sales of processed foods is expand-

28 Exclusive on Meat

are more likely to visit more, still mature adults have demonstrated a higher pro- clivity towards fast food consumption. Except Dominos’s and Chicken Cottage, all the other fast food chains are more popular among the mature division. Pakistan is a land where various cul- tures co-exist and this disparity is reflected in the eating habits of the gen- eral population as well. Recently, remark- able transformation has occurred in food consumption of the Pakistani masses. Fast food consumption has increased radically. This dramatic shift towards fast food con- sumption is primarily because people prefer convenience and good taste. Because of the emerging market trends in this particular industry, the casual taste among the masses is now congregating. The changing consumer preferences, rants representing the well-known inter- also the second biggest fast food chain in shifting lifestyles and presence of multina- national chains like McDonalds, KFC, the world. tional chains have further facilitated and Pizza Hut etc. triggered fast food consumption in Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut is the biggest Pakistan. The aforementioned survey Fast Food restaurants normally cater pizza restaurant in Pakistan which is very results also indicate the dominance of to food like burgers, pizzas, fried chicken, popular for its great taste and attractive multinationals, this is because these sandwiches, rolls and nuggets. The best deals. It offers a great menu with variety chains have resorted to market led term to describe the menu of these of meals and excellent dining areas. It is approaches and transformed their menus restaurants is ‘Meat-Sweet Diet’ which is also one of the biggest pizza chains in the in order to satisfy consumer needs. mostly not very healthy but tasty none world. the less. Some of fast food restaurants in Recent statistics also demonstrate that Hardee’s: Hardees are another popu- Pakistan only provide take away and growth in fast food in augmenting 20% lar in Pakistan with home delivery service. annually, which implies that this is one the good taste and great menu. It has exis- fastest growing businesses in Pakistan. There are thousands of fast food tence in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Also, this signifies a hefty untapped restaurants currently operational in Faisalabad and Multan. market which can be exploited by local as Pakistan, which are distributed in all the Domino’s: Dominos is a leading pizza well as international brands. major cities. The more popular names like place in Pakistan with growing popularity. McDonalds and KFC have branches in Although Pakistan is considered to be It has existence in Karachi, Lahore, almost all the bigger cities in Pakistan and a dawdler in technology and various Islamabad and Rawalpindi. their network is expanding each year. other sectors, but one cannot deny the : Burger King is one of the There are also some new names (new in exceptional growth and the potential that leading and most popular fast food Pakistan) like Hardees, Fat Burger and fast food industry inherits in Pakistan. Not restaurants in the world. But it is relatively Burger King which have opened recently. only its development can contribute new in Pakistan. It has existence in Details of some most popular fast food towards macroeconomic stability but also, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Multan. restaurants in Pakistan are below: latent needs of the consumers can be Fat Burger is another popular yet new fast met. McDonald’s: McDonald’s is one of food restaurant in Pakistan. It has exis- most popular fast food restaurants in the tence in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Fast Food restaurants country with existence in almost all the major cities. It is well known for its great Problems Fast Food restaurants are becoming taste, excellent quality of service and eco- increasingly popular in Pakistan, as is the nomical prices. It is also the biggest fast Nowadays in the World problems of case worldwide. Convenience of eating food chain in the world. fast food is widespread all over the world. on the go, better accessibility and eco- Fast food restaurants are situated almost KFC: Among the leading and oldest nomical prices have contributed signifi- in every country. The most popular of fast food restaurants in Pakistan, KFC is cantly to the growth of fast food them are McDonald’s, Burger King’s, KFC symbol of quality and taste. It has coun- restaurants in Pakistan especially restau- restaurants. With the efficient service, low try-wide existence and great menu. It is

July - August 2016 29 Exclusive on Meat

prices, and casual atmosphere, fast food tions fast food in a similar pattern to doesn’t contain vitamins, due to these seems like the ideal "all-American" the West, heart disease risk increases. entire disadvantages one should think choice. In fact, over 25% of Americans According to this Google map, there are before choosing fast food. consume fast food every day. There are close to 50,000 fast food chains across On the other hand, the greatest many debates about the pluses and the United States, with McDonalds being advantage of fast food is that it saves minuses of fast food, but in spite of them, the largest restaurant chain. In the world, time. When a person does not have that industry is prospering. there are more than 500,000 fast food enough time for cooking it is very con- Proponents of fast foods ensure that places. venient to buy it already made. Moreover, these foods are safe for human consump- Kids between the ages of 6 and 14 buying fast food is handier while travel- tion, but critics argue that their effects are eat fast food 157,000,000 times every ling. It is interesting to note, that most bad for health. So, the most serious draw- month. 96% of kids in school could rec- people believe that calories are harmful back of fast food is that it badly effects on ognize an image of Ronald McDonald, for our health, but this is not true, health and well-being. Firstly, fast food the face of McDonalds. The only recog- because human organism needs them for contains a lot of calories, which can make nizable figure that ranked higher was metabolism. We can see, that “one meal you overweight, and this is one the most Santa Claus. To top it off, Americans at a fast food restaurant contains all the important problems in the United States spend nearly $100 billion on fast food calories you need for an entire day”. So, of America, because, as we can see, fast every year. fast food can be healthy when you eat it food is mostly popular there. According The most common vegetable served rarely. You can also find dishes in menu to the recent study one out of four at fast food places is the potato in the those are not so unhealthy. For instance, Americans eats fast food every day, due form of French fries. There is no problem there you can always find salads and to the fast food culture, about 60% of with eating fast food occasionally, but if juices. Besides, fast food restaurants are Americans are overweight. you are eating it more than once a week, cheaper than the others and this is one Fast food does not have to be consider ordering some healthier options more reason why people choose them. unhealthy, but most of the time it is; con- that are more nutritional. To sum it up, I am convinced that fast food is more harmful than healthy, but if sumers often order foods with more fat, This problem concerns not only USA. we eat it not very often, it will not calories, sugar, sodium, and less nutrition Furthermore, overweight, in the most damage your health. and vitamins than is necessary. Keep cases, leads to problems such as diabetes reading to find out some more about and heart diseases. What is more scary, is References what makes fast food so common in that it can also receive sleep apnoea, 1. Kidd, Deanna. Monday, April 23, America and how to pick healthier impotence, high blood pressure, most 2012. options. types of cancer, headache, gallstones, 2. http://blog.partnersforyourhealth. Americans and other Western coun- osteoarthritis, depression, asthma, and com/Blog/bid/85971/ Shocking-Fast- tries tend to eat more processed and fast lower back pain. One more disadvantage Food-Statistics-You-Should-Know. food than Eastern areas, and scientists of fast food, which is not less important 3. “Fast Food Statistics” .http://www. smart-healthy-eating.com/fast-food- have found that when Eastern popula- than the previous ones, is that it almost statistics.htm.