McDonald’s goes full-Aussie as Australia gets fatter…fast

[AiA in Atlanta]

Need exactly 1 finger to count the number of times I eat here in a year.



McDonald’s goes full-Aussie as Australia gets fatter…fast

Fast food juggernaut McDonald’s spotlighted Australia as particularly fertile sales terrain in its most recent quarterly earnings report, noting that solid results in Australia helped offset weakness in markets like Japan. And in honor of Australia day, McDonald’s will be re-kitting its signage at some stores with the preferred nickname Australians use for the fast-food chain: Macca’s.

And, of course, McDonald’s has also made some interesting tweaks lately to cater to Australian tastes, including the national penchant for lamb. Here’s an ad spotlighting that decision, featuring former Aussie-rules football player, media personality, and national spokesman of the benefits of lamb consumption, Sam Kekovich

We’ll find out if Australia continues to contribute in a meaningful way to McDonald’s bottom line when the company reports fourth-quarter results on Wednesday. But it’s worth noting that Australian waistlines have been booming lately, too. Some 63% of Aussies are now overweight or obese, up from 61% in 2008 and 56% in 1995, according the Australian Bureau of Statistics. And other reports have emerged recently spotlighting a rise in risky pregnancies among rural women due to obesity.

Such health issues are sparking something of nascent pushback against contributors to obesity such as soda. It doesn’t look like any action is imminent. After all, Australia shares many affinities with the United States, including an appreciation of free enterprise. On the other hand, when the overwhelming weight of evidence suggests that something—like, say, assault rifles—is a serious public health risk, Australians are willing to do something about it.

[Rorschach]

Problem with maccas here is that the cheap food is fatty whereas the salads etc are expensive. Pretty woggy looking kids there BTW. The kid on the right looks like he's in a sumo suit.

[Neferti]

Problem with maccas here is that the cheap food is fatty whereas the salads etc are expensive. Pretty woggy looking kids there BTW. The kid on the right looks like he's in a sumo suit.

The problem is the Bogans. Lazy and FAT Aussies with no clue.

Everyone I know buys proper fresh vegetables, fruit and meat/chicken/fish for their kids and husband. They have an occasional "take out", if that.

There is nothing wrong with having a Maccas every so often, is there?

[Rorschach]

I still reckon its a Sumo Suit.

[Aussie]

I still reckon its a Sumo Suit.

"What gave it away," Roachy Poachy Puddin' and Pie?

[Neferti]

"What gave it away,"

The fat kid who looks like he has Indian or Greek in his DNA?

[Super Nova]

His parents are responsible. It's not Maccas responsibility. They provide shit food cheap. If you feed it to your kids you are responsible.

It's time for parents to take responsibility for their over weight kids.

Our grandparents ate lard FFS. It's about balance.

I have maccas once a year when really desparate. Generally at an airport. If it is fresh.... I ask for it without pickle so they have to make it fresh it can almost taste like food instead of salty fat.

This kid has the right idea... fat maybe the new sexy.

[boxy]

"What gave it away,"

The fat kid who looks like he has Indian or Greek in his DNA?

That pic has been around the interwebs for years.

[boxy]

It's a consumer society. The way out of today's recessions is to consume more... it's like our job these days, now that we're just here to supervise the machines.

[IQS.RLOW]

Maybe your job...just be thankful for modern sewerage otherwise you would be reveling in the job you would be most qualified for