FAST food brands go to great lengths to promote their restaurants as providing convenience and value-for-money meals.
Basically, diners know exactly what they will be getting when frequenting a globally-recognised fast-food outlet for a meal that should look, smell and taste the same when ordered anywhere in the world.
However, this was patently not the case for Facebook user Lai Joo Non who shared his experience of ordering a promo deal at the Bentong KFC outlet.
Highlighting it on foodie forum – The Makan Club – Lai was far from impressed that the portions were greatly reduced while highlighting images of a chicken drumstick barely larger than his forefinger!
The post has generated a fair bit of feedback. This is what other foodies had to say:
More than one teased that the 50% promo alluded to the size of the chicken, not just price.
One netizen suggested ordering non-drumstick and wings from KFC as the sizes are miniscule. Better to insist on the meatier rib or breast parts for a more satisfying meal.
More than a few lamented that the food served under these special promos tend to look very poor and unappetising.
Some suggested exercising consumer power by taking their custom elsewhere.
However, some netizens pointed out that other fast food franchises were also putting out these morsel-sized servings.
It does appear that this promo is having a counter-productive effect as far as some customers were concerned.
Promo aside, some netizens complained that the portions were also small at regular prices. Worse yet was the short shrift given by the customer care service when this was highlighted.
While it is commendable that fast food chains try to address rising cost of living concerns with value meals, it must be done in a satisfactory manner.
The example above only tarnishes the brand as the restaurant looks like it is fleecing its customers with gimmicks and substandard meals.
Yes, costing in the FnB (food & beverage) industry is a complicated matter but quality control and more pertinently – brand image – have to be maintained at all times lest consumers permanently affix a negative perception to it.
That sort of damage can be irreversible and cause the franchise great losses in the long run. Unless, of course, KFC wants comments like the one below to become the prevailing sentiment. – March 16, 2024
