Food costs and employee costs have gone up. They are not immune. They just have a poorer product. When the difference in cost between high quality and average quality is less of a value difference.
If a big Mac is $2 and a burger at a nice place is $5, lots will get the big Mac. If a big Mac is $8 and the nice one is $11, lots will get the nice one.
Not only that, bit as the staff cost goes up, there are even more people who will say, screw it, I’ll cook my own.
This is happening outside the US as well.
Fast food places aren’t fast or cheap anymore. Big Mac and Whopper meals are about 10€
For 2€ more I can get a real burger at an actual restaurant.
Food costs and employee costs have gone up. They are not immune. They just have a poorer product. When the difference in cost between high quality and average quality is less of a value difference.
If a big Mac is $2 and a burger at a nice place is $5, lots will get the big Mac. If a big Mac is $8 and the nice one is $11, lots will get the nice one.
Not only that, bit as the staff cost goes up, there are even more people who will say, screw it, I’ll cook my own.