The one London tourist attraction I think is terribly overrated is Harrods, especially the food halls. On my last trip to London I bought some candy and a slice of madeira cake there and they were both expensive and not even very good. At least the orange I bought was delicious although it must have cost me about $2!!

Although I like Kripsy Kreme doughnuts, it saddens to me to witness the continued "Americanization" of western Europe. Now don't get me wrong here, I love America, but when I travel to Europe I want to experience European food and culture, not another American food franchise. Sometimes I wish Europe would have the foresight and sense to just say no!

Rebecka:

Do you say "no" to pizzas in the US? Do you avoid Chinese or Indian restaurants in the UK? How about French wine? Do you get upset at eating potatoes or tomatoes in Europe? Or pasta in Italy, if you believe the nonsense that it's a Chinese invention?

Why is it that when Americans set up franchises (which split income between the US franchisor and the local franchisee) abroad, it's colonisation? But every kebab stand in London or gyros vendor in NYC is a laudable example of diversity?

Fact is, KK will fail in London. Partly because they're a bit posh for Horrids. But mostly because the free market will find them out. And not because of soggy liberal double standards

"Do you say No to Pizzas in America - YES Americans don't know how to make pizzas.

All I know is that KK are addictive, when one first came to my neighborhood, I got hooked and thought I would buy one, and would end up getting back in line to buy 2 or 3 more, they are soo good when they are hot.
A friend from London tried them, he was sitting in the backseat of my car when we picked up a box. I handed them back to him and a few blocks down the street I looked back and he was looking sheepish and had crumbs all over his face! Now when he visits he goes straight to KK.
The British do have sweet tooths in general, so they may like them.

Ahem, flanneruk, note that I used the word "franchise" in my message. What would that have to do with individual ethnic restaurants or foreign foods that flourish pretty much everywhere? I have no problem with those. Last time I checked, flanneruk, a stand is hardly a franchise, at least not of the size and scope of KK or Starbucks. What bothers me is the homogenizing of foreign cultures where, for instance, the Krispy Kreme doughnut replaces indigenous pastries of other kinds. Of course, it is up to the people every country to decide how much of these franchises they want. Personally I'd rather have apple strudel in Vienna than a Krispy Kreme doughnut, but maybe that's just me.

And by the by, I am not an American, but I live in the US. Nor am I especially liberal, politically speaking.

Personally, I love Krispy Kreme!! Absolutely melt in your mouth! On the business side, they are a fantastic business... I think I saw an article in an investment magazine or online on how much profit one of these little stores make... Cost $1 mil, but pays for itself in a few years.

Harrod's leasing space to Krispy Kreme is a brilliant idea. To start with it increases Harrod's foot traffic into the store, and it will increase Harrod's sales dollars. Tourists that can't afford to buy anything in Harrod's, can at least say they bought a doughnut there. Women that drag their husbands along shopping, will have a place to get a cup of coffee and a KK.

I would not be surprised if Harrod's is getting a percentage of the gross sales dollars at this outlet, besides rent.

Think about all of the fast food outlets in the airports. They are there because the items are a familiar and lower priced item than eating in the former restaurants that were at each of the terminals.

Rebecka:

At the risk of boring everyone else, let me get this straight.

If an American lets a foreigner share in the profitability of, let's say, a salt beef sandwich operation, that's colonisation? But if he sets up a business where only he makes money out of it, that's OK? Because that's the difference between franchising and other ways of moving ideas across countries.

And, more important, just where is this homogenisation of taste that worries you? When I was a child, we could choose between lousy British food and...well, other lousy British food. Now the choice - mostly between OK to really rather good - cuisines is almost impossible to cope with.

And in the list of those cuisines, US-derived food is really VERY trivial. Compared to the range of Italian, French, Chinese, Thai, Cypriot masquerading as Greek... I could (and if you're not careful, will) go on.

Food is simply not being Americanised. For every McD in Italy, France, India or China there are, literally, thousands of non-American restaurants in the US. As there are, again, hundreds of Asian restaurants in the UK, Germany or Australia for every US-derived outlet. Why do I mention these three? Because they're the places where, typically, US franchises start and thrive.

Food is certainly being internationalised. There are some plausible (though ultimately wrong) arguments against this trend. But excessive US domination isn't one of them. Because it just isn't true.

Sorry, flanneruk, but I don't agree. Again at the risk of repeating myself, I am NOT talking about individual ethnic restaurants as a whole but the big American franchises that pop up in every city like mushrooms after rain. America does seem to be the predominant the tastemaker (pun intended) of the western world these days. Why do you think there is so much criticism abroad of the pervasiveness of American culture? Wasn't that a French farmer who tried tearing down Mickey D's a few years ago? Something is clearly afoot here. And where are the big Indian, French, and British food franchises here in the US? Are there any at all? Will I ever see a Pret a Manger here in Massachusetts?

Of course, looking at it fairly from a European perspective, there is no reason why Europeans shouldn't be able to enjoy an American hamburger or Krispy Kreme in their own countries if they want it. Or indeed share in the profits of American enterprise if they wish. We have some pretty decent food this side of the pond, so I wouldn't blame them!

And what's with this "colonisation"? When did I ever use that word? The word I would use is "pervasiveness".

Sharing in the profit is all well and good but life is surely more than dollars and pounds.

I hope we can respectfully disagree, so let's move on-

OK, I lied. I do have an opinion. It always kind of confounds me when people refer to a place as being "Americanized" due to the presence of fast-food restaurants. I mean, they talk about it like it's an ideological thing. Like these businesses are put in there, against the will of the local people, by Dr. Evil and his henchman in a desperate attempt by the BIG BAD AMERICANS to run the world or something.

I hate to break it to you folks, but those businesses are in there and are going in there because there is a market for them. Period. I know it's tempting and kind of romantic in a politically philosophical kind of way to think or opine otherwise, but it's just wrong.

If the Brits want Krispy Kreme, let 'em have Krispy Kreme. And if they don't want it, I'm sure they are perfectly capable of NOT patronizing the establishment and therefore making it go away. I just think all this talk on our part comes across as more than a little condescending. It's like were figuratively patting them on the head saying, "There, there, little one. How sad for you! There goes your neighborhood!"

I'm not moving on, because:
1. This is what the original question's all about
2. Rebecka is, I'm afraid, seriously confused.

Let's take your example of Jose Bove, the Frenchman who destroys other Frenchmen's restaurants (and in a civilised country would be jailed as the thug he is).
Why does he do this? Actually, because the US made it difficult for the French to export roquefort (as a result of the endless squabble between the EU and US over GM food and hormones in beef. In both of which, BTW, the EU is almost certainly acting illegally). That's his complaint.Hence his other, less criminal, stunt, of walking round the US giving bits of roquefort away. He's not against globalisation: he just thinks he's not personally exploiting it enough.

Now explain to me how McDonalds - or KK - differs from Nestle, Unilever, or any other European food multinational who sells their food in other countries.


US food - however inedible - simply isn't pervasive. Italian, French, Chinese etc is. The belief that US food is conquering the planet is a fantasy held mostly by:
- anti-globalisation nuts, and
- Americans with an exaggerated sense of their country's importance.

You, Rebecka, may be neither of these things. But your views are remarkably close to those of people who are.

Europeans labor under the false impression that American fast food is the only kind of American food. Non fast food American cuisine is neither vile nor inedible; it can be absolutely delicious.
I'm surprised to hear that KK is doomed to failure. Last time I checked, the Starbucks in London are doing fine and full of customers and Starbucks' European expansion plans have not been scaled back. They haven't been pushed aside by British upstarts (even though the level of service in British Starbucks is far below that of Starbucks in Pacific NW, the chain's home territory).
I would *not* be surprised to see KK become very popular in the areas where it's distributed.
If you think it's a bad thing, don't buy any. If you think it's a good thing, enjoy!

My, my, my. Aren't you the angry one, flanneruk? Express an opinion here and step on someone's testy but oh-so-well-informed little toes. It is you who seems to be the one who is confused - lumping together restaurants of of various ethnicities with conglomerates and franchises. And do let me know when Pret a Manger opens its American branch, will you?

Jennie is actually right about market forces and demand. All I hope is that too many smaller restaurants and establishments abroad promoting native foods will not be forced to close due to market pressures. I have seen it happen here in the US - so many of the old "Mom and Pop" businesses closing down only to have a Starbucks open in their place. If that concern makes me an "anti-globalisation nut", so be it!

And I'm not at all surprised by BTilke's report either.

Enjoy the Krispy Kremes.

Rebecka, I understand your points (my husband and I both read Fast Food Nation earlier this year, ugh!). However, I don't think Krispy Kreme will displace any small European businesses, especially bakeries. The KK menu is simply too limited; it's a niche market--doughnut shops aren't that common in Europe. Bakeries may sell a few doughnut type pastries (i.e., berliners) but doughnuts are not their "bread and butter." It's like the American style chocolate chip cookie stands that popped up in Europe a few years ago. They didn't put anybody out of business because they were something new, not a mass market version of something already there.
I admit to a weakness for KK glazed doughnuts. I don't usually go to Harrods, but I might have to pop in.
The store better hope the customers buy the doughnuts AFTER they've wandered through the clothing departments...or else they better be prepared for a lot of goods smeared with with jelly, sugar and chocolate from sticky fingered KK addicts!

Now, don't shoot me . . . I'm just the messenger here. But there are 10 Pret-a-Mangers here in the states. All 10 of them are in New York City.

Go here to see what I'm talking about:
http://www.pretamanger.com/shops/

Jennie

Rebecka Just a note on Pret A Manger is 40% owned by McDonadls coporation And yes ther in NYC for over two years now There is a Pret on Broad Street in lower Manhattan (about 2 blocks south of Wall Street).

Probably a good thing for Krispy Kreme and for those British people who love fried dough slathered with sugar. :)

After much fanfare, Krispy Kreme opened a store in the Seattle area about a year ago. It was amazing; people waited in line for hours. I LOVE donuts and like theirs, but not as much as I thought I would.

I'm a fan of fresh donuts too, but ya know what I really like? The delicious beignets one can get in New Orleans. Mmm mmmm yummy nummers.

Haven't been to New Orleans or had fresh beignets in years....sure do miss 'em.

BR, my sister-in-law comes from NO, and she gave me a local cookbook, complete with Cafe du Monde recipe for beignets. If you want it I'll post it for you (won't be the first time recipes have ended up on this board...). Not hard to make at all.

Flanneruk, I think your insight here is sharp.

Glad to hear someone broke the news that Pret a Manger lives and breathes in the US and that McD's has a substantial interest in the business.

Additionally, for what it's worth, Giant Food is a major grocery chain in the DC Metro area and was purchased by Sainsbury in the mid 90s and is now owned by a Netherlands company.

I agree with Rebecka in so far as it's distressing to see the big guys make it hard for the mom and pop places to thrive but it's not Americanization. B&N = Waterstones. Starbucks = Costa.