McKhmer

McKhmer

Woo Hoo!!!! They're coming!!!!

Cambodia is well and truly on the development map, McDonald's is poking around and looking to move in. At least according to the Cambodia Daily... – large pinch of salt with those fries sir?

Apparently a franchising representative has had a look and answered the Daily via e-mail that, "McDonald's intends to develop restaurants in Cambodia; however no final date has been established for this development."

What does it take to franchise a McDonald's?

According to the report: High integrity, business experience, knowledge of culture and customs, willingness to devote themselves full-time to the venture, willingness to train for nine months in a foreign country, knowledge of real estate management and ability to work well with the franchise organisation.

Strange, all that I thought it took was a large wedge of cash and some silly paper hats.

Anyway, I am sure that McDonald's can sort this one out themselves but once again the mere mention of a McDonald's in Cambodia will inevitably set off the more cultured than thou, lentil-eating, sandal wearing, groups off on some anti-globalisation, anti-western, anti-development, anti-progress kick. oh oh oh let us maintain the quaint little villages; never mind the fact that they suffer a 10% infant mortality rate and life expectancy shorter than that of a McApple Pie.

McDonald's does not enter a country to cater to the whims of residing or visiting westerners, but enters a market when there is sufficient local interest and ability to purchase the product. I have been in many McDonald's; in Thailand, in Poland, in Paris, in Milan, in Budapest, in London (not too mention New York) and almost all the customers are locals and not westerners-on-tour

Soap box time again. I have a real problem with people who start ripping out their hair over the presence of McDonald's – or any franchised Western chain - in a given foreign country. The restaurant is very popular around the world and that someone thinks McDonald's should not be in Cambodia because they do not like the food or, more likely, feel that McDonald's somehow symbolises the evils of western culture and how dare they invade poor little Cambodia with their cultural pollution wrecking the social fabric of these poor little impressionable Cambodians is quite a patronising attitude.

If Cambodians want to enjoy McDonald's then they have every right to enjoy it and do not need some westerner telling them what is and is not right for them. Cambodia is for the Cambodians and they can decide for themselves whether or not they want a McDonald's.

If the presence of a McDonald's somehow disturbs some westerner's idea of what Cambodia should look like, well, that is a personal problem to work out. If you do not like it, you're welcome to go to any of the numerous privately owned bars or restaurants in Cambodia, order a beer and complain to whoever will listen, never mind said bar or restaurant is probably going to be western-owned and themed. If a McDonald's should appear in Cambodia I suggest you complain not to McDonald's or your local bartender but to the local Cambodian government that issued them the business license. However, do not be too surprised if the person on the other side laughs at you and tells you to get lost as he takes a bite out of his McCheese burger.

Bring on the Big Macs baby, supersize me !