INTRODUCTION

Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any
meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to
food sold in a restaurant or store with low quality preparation and served to the customer in a
packaged form for take-out/take-away.
Outlets may be stands or kiosks, which may provide no shelter or seating, or fast food
restaurants (also known as quick service restaurants). Franchise operations which are part of
restaurant chains have standardized foodstuffs shipped to each restaurant from central
locations.
The capital requirements involved in opening up a fast food restaurant are relatively low.
Restaurants with much higher sit-in ratios, where customers tend to sit and have their orders
brought to them in a seemingly more upscale atmosphere may be known in some areas as fast
casual restaurants.

HISTORY
The concept of ready-cooked food for sale is closely connected with urban development. In
Ancient Rome cities had street stands that sold bread and wine. A fixture of East Asian cities is
the noodle shop. Flatbread and falafel are today ubiquitous in the Middle East. Popular Indian
fast food dishes include vada pav, panipuri and dahi vada. In the French-speaking nations of
West Africa, roadside stands in and around the larger cities continue to sellas they have done
for generationsa range of ready-to-eat, char-grilled meat sticks known locally as brochettes.
The Start of Fast Food Culture:
The concept of fast food pops up during 1920s.The 1950s first witnessed their rapid
proliferation. Several factors that contributed to this explosive growth in 50s were:
(1) Americas love affair with the automobiles.
(2) The construction of a major new highway system.

(3) The development of sub-urban communities.

(4) The baby boom subsequent to world war second.
The development of Indian cuisine has a very long and turbulent history and is ever changing
even today as Indians try new cuisines and are exposed to new influences and people from
other nations.
Sen (2004) traced the historical origins of Indian cuisine and a summary of these different
influences is shown next page:
Prehistory Early cultivation of plants and spices couple
with early domestication of animals.
30001500 BC Crops such as wheat, barley and lentils are
developed and meat and fish are staples.

2000800 BC Aryan tribes migrate to northern India. Sugar

cane is grown and processed in southern
India.
1000500 BC Hinduism develops and castes develop. This
leads to a rejection of eating meat, and particularly
cows.
6th century BC Buddha and Mahavira found Buddhism and
Jainism. Jains practice strict vegetarianism.
1st century AD Christianity arrives in India.
5th century AD Ayurveda (system of medicine based on food)
develops.
12061536 Central Asian dynasties introduce Central
Asian and Persian cuisines.
Late-15th Portuguese arrive in India, found an empire,
early-16th and bring new ingredients such as tomatoes
century ,chillies, potatoes etc.
17th century East India Company is formed.
18301850 Tea plantations established by British in
Assam and Darjeeling.
1857 British crown takes over government of India
and hybrid foods begin to develop.
1947 Tandoori chicken invented in Delhi.

1977 Indian food grows in popularity in UK and the

first Balti restaurant opens in Birmingham.
1996 McDonalds and Pizza Hut open in India.
2003 Restaurants continue to open offering new
international cuisines as the Indian economy
grows and urbanisation develops at a rapid
rate.

Emergence
The fast food culture emerged as early as the 19th century. During the Industrial Revolution, a
large workforce was required to work for 10 to 12 hours a day. With so much work to be done,
fast food was the idea of a quick and easy lunch.
In India, fast food culture emerged in the decades after independence, starting from the 1950s.
Eating at home used to be a significant aspect of Indian culture, so the change was gradual.
Over a period of time, with a growth in the number of nuclear families, economic growth and
increasing per capita income as well as globalization, fast food culture gained prominence.
Women were shifting from their conventional roles of managing the household and taking care
of the children. With growth in literacy, they started joining the workforce in large numbers.
Fast food became a time-saving alternative to cooking for them.
Similarly, children resorted to fast food to fill their stomachs in school and college. Their
exposure to global urban culture and Western cuisine accelerated their want for cheap and
delicious fast food.
Moreover, fast food costs less than traditional long meals commencing with appetizer and
concluding with dessert.
Nirulas and Pizza Corner Indias most popular domestic fast food chains gained rapid
popularity during this period. Though the fast food culture originated abroad, these domestic
food chains could create a perfect blend of international food with Indian ingredients. Paneer
pizzas and aloo tikki burgers were indeed able to satisfy Indian taste buds.
With the liberalization of the economy in 1992, new multinational fast food giants started
dotting India with their outlets. Burger King, Wimpys, Pizza Hut, Dominos Pizza,
McDonalds, and KFC outlets can be seen today in nearly every shopping mall and

other public areas. In fact, these multinationals have given their domestic counterparts a run for
their money. They are growing at a much faster pace than the Indian chains.
REASON FOR EMERGENCE
Gender Roles:
Gender roles are now changing. Females have started working outside. So, they have no time
for their home and cooking food. Fast food is an easy way out because these can be prepared
easily.
Customer Sophistication and Confidence:
Consumers are becoming more sophisticated now. They do not want to prepare food and spend
their time and energy in house hold works. They are building their confidence more on ready to
eat and easy to serve kind of foods.
Paucity of Time:
People have no time for cooking. Because of emergence of working women and also number of
other entertainment items. Most of the time either people work or want to enjoy with their
family.
Double Income Group:
Emergence of double income group leads to increase in disposable income. Now people have
more disposable income so they can spend easily in fast food and other activities.
Working Women:
Working women have no time for cooking, and if they have then also they dont want to cook.
Because they want to come out of the traditionally defined gender roles. They do not want to
confine themselves to household work and upbringing of childrens.
Large population:

India being a second largest country in terms of population possesses large potential market for
all the products/services. This results into entry of large number of fast food players in the
country.
Relaxation in rules and regulations:
With the economic liberalization of 1991, most of the tariff and non tariff barriers from the
Indian boundaries are either removed or minimized. This helped significantly the MNCs to
enter in the country.
Menu diversification:
Increase in consumption of pizzas, burgers and other type of fast foods.

Impact
The emergence of the fast food industry has, to an extent, transformed urban food culture in
India.
It is common knowledge that too much fast food is bad for health and may lead to obesity. An
essential component of most fast food is fat the kind of fat that in excess can lead to artery
clogging. In large quantities, fast food may lead to obesity as well as hypertension, diabetes,
high cholesterol and heart diseases. Even certain types of cancers have been observed to spread
due to lack of safety standards in some sectors of the fast food industry.
There are also several environmental problems associated with how fast food outlets process
and package their products. Food packaging is done using plastic, Styrofoam and other
synthetic products which are not biodegradable. In recent times, many fast food outlets have
switched to paper bags. Though paper is biodegradable, at the large quantities in which paper
waste is generated in India, currently paper is seen more as a pollutant. Metal and glassware
would be more favorable to serve food, but they destroy the whole purpose of consuming food
on-the-go. The need of the hour is a law or regulation that forces these outlets to recycle the
paper, plastic and foam they use everyday.
Indias fast food industry is growing at 40% per annum and generates over Rs. 4800 crores in
sales. The multinational segment of the industry generates over Rs. 7000 crores.
Fast food has, in a way, impacted the Indian economy by creating jobs. Outlets require a large
number of unskilled workers who are willing to work for low wages. On the one hand, this
generates widespread employment. On the other hand, some analysts feel that it weakens the
economy by forcing people to take up jobs in which there is little room for advancement.

Fast food industry has been very successful in India, both in financial terms as well as in
popularizing its quick service culture among the population.
Jobs and labor issues
Today, more than 10 million workers are employed in the areas of food preparation and food
servicing including fast food in the world.
Employees are the backbone of the fast food industry. Proper training is crucial to the orderly
and quick service customers expect. Yet, employee turnover can be as high as 200% per year.
With such a turnover, owner-operators of franchise and non-franchise restaurants have the
daunting task of constantly training an entirely new workforce. Policies and procedures need to
be explained to each new employee.
Globalization
In 2006, the global fast food market grew by 4.8% and reached a value of 102.4 billion and a
volume of 80.3 billion transactions. In India alone the fast food industry is growing by 40% a
year. McDonald's is located in 120 countries and on 6 continents and operates over 31,000
restaurants worldwide.
KFC is located in 25 countries. Subway has 29,186 restaurants located in 86 countries, Pizza
Hut is located in 26 countries, Taco Bell has 278 restaurants located in 12 countries besides the
United States.

Health issue
Trans fats which are commonly found in fast food have been shown in many tests to have a
negative health effect on the body.
The fast food consumption has been shown to increase calorie intake, promote weight gain, and
elevate risk for diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked obesity as the
number one health threat for Americans in 2004. It is the second leading cause of preventable
death in the United States and results in 400,000 deaths each year.
Is Indian Fast Food HEALTHY??
One of the richest diets high in calories is Indian Food. If you can pinch more than an inch, its
probably time for you to cut down on the calories you eat in Desi food, especially if you want
to lose some pounds to be healthier and look fitter.
It may seem so innocent just to have that bite size Pakora but we really dont know what fat or
calories it contains. This is true; most of us dont actually know what were eating when we
have an Indian meal at home or at an Indian restaurant.
A small spicy plate of curry is enough usually to fill our appetites but we dont know how many
calories are in it. Today, the younger generation is more aware of calories and fat than before.
Therefore, if youre seeking to control the calories when choosing a dish, make sure you
minimise the ghee or oil content and have more of the other ingredients. If cooking, use
alternatives such as Olive oil. When ordering in a restaurant, request less fat to be used in your
dish.

Seasonal eating plays a key role in our diets. During the winter we tend to eat heavier foods
such as deserts and spoil ourselves with scrumptious hot meals usually full of comforting
ingredients, thus, making it harder to shift the pounds with exercise.
Eating out can always be a dilemma between choosing a tasty dish and one that is low in
calories. Therefore, choosing your courses wisely can help you manage the calorie count.
When considering what to eat for your starter, it is perhaps best to choose something light, such
as a Popadom as this contains only 65 calories. Unlike Samosas or Onion Bhajis which
contain higher calorie content in each portion
Dips are used to enhance the taste of a starter, but dont be fooled, these also contain calories. A
Cucumber Raita or a Tomato Sambal contains approximately 20 calories each. This is
significantly less than Mango Chutney or Lime Pickle; a little as 1tbsp can contain up to 70
calories. Yes, you read correctly, 70 calories!
In the present times, it is the fast food craze that has created sensation all over. The fast food
has occupied a demanding position in the list of top hot fad foods. People are getting lured into
trying yummy fast food dishes, without possessing adequate knowledge regarding Indian fast
food nutrition. Well, there is a need for bringing forward some eye opener nutrition facts about
fastfood.
These days, the fast food chains are booming in number and witnessing flourishing business.
Abraham Lincoln had once said, "let the people know the facts and the country will be safe".
Well, it also holds true regarding the information about fast food nutritional content. The prime
motive is to make the people aware of the fact and then let them take conscious decision.

Here are some facts about fast food nutrition:

In the list of fattening dishes, Korma and Biryani are on the top.
If a sauce solidifies in room temperature, it's an indication that it consists of high saturated
fats.
Pappadums contain relatively high calories.
Indian curry makes use of green chilies that are rich in Vitamin C.
All food items like Tikka dishes that are cooked in dry oven contain low fat.
Instead of creamy pasta sauce, eating tomato sauce is a better option, as pasta sauce contain
high fat content.
Lasagna contains multiple cheese layers; therefore it is a very fatty item.
Chips are high in fat and calories.
Well, the basic reason that can be attributed to the increasing consumption of fast food is the
fact that fast food is readily available, quick to make and easy to serve. Media truly deserves
the credit for the wide publicity of fast food stuff. But it is always advisable to eat healthy
nutritious food that can help maintain your overall fitness.

Profile of Fast Food Industry

Indian Fast Food Industry Overview
The fast food industry in India has evolved with the changing lifestyles of the young Indian
population. The sheer variety of gastronomic preferences across the regions, hereditary or
acquired, has brought about different modules across the country. It may take some time for the
local enterprise to mature to the level of international players in the field.
Many of the traditional dishes have been adapted to suit the emerging fast food outlets. The
basic adaptation is to decrease the processing and serving time. For example, the typical meal
which called for being served by an ever alert attendant is now offered as a Mini-Meal across
the counter. In its traditional version, a plate or a banana leaf was first laid down on the floor or
table. Several helpers then waited on the diner, doling out different dishes and refilling as they
got over in the plate.
In the fast food version, a plate already arranged with a variety of cooked vegetables and
curries along with a fixed quantity of rice and Indian flatbreads is handed out across the counter
against a prepaid coupon. The curries and breads vary depending on the region and local
preferences. The higher priced ones may add a sweet to the combination. Refills are generally
not offered.
The diversity of Indian cuisine poses logistical problems when it comes to handling. Hence it is
common to serve different cuisines at different counters within the same premises. Presence of
a large vegetarian population, who eschew non-vegetarian food, has given rise to outlets which
exclusively serve vegetarian fast food. Also, different variety of food may be served depending
on the times of the day. Beverages

such coffee, tea, soft drinks and fruit juices may also be served in such outlets. Some outlets
may additionally have specially designed counters for ice-cream, chaata etc.
India isnt probably the type of country youd associate with an abundance of fast food
restaurants, and to some extent thats the case but along with everywhere else in the world, fast
food is becoming part of the lifestyle in India.
The big fast food chains have all made brave attempts to conquer the Indian market.
McDonald's, Domino's and KFC all found it difficult to cater for Indian tastes, but then decided
to change their own menu to adapt rather than expect a cultural shift and now McDonald's
and Domino's have a wide presence in India. KFC have struggled. The key to the success of the
big chains is adapting the traditional Indian snacks and cuisine to make them fast food friendly.
Generic Indian Street Food:
The street food in India is as diverse as the population, but there are some snacks that youre
likely to find all over the country. You really cant visit India and not sample some of the native
Chaat a hugely variable spicy snack mix, often seasoned with lemon, pomegranate seeds,
Kala Namak (black salt), tamarind, and various chutneys. Chaat can be anything from a fruit
dish with guava, banana, apple or melon, crisp pancakes called paapri, served with yogurt, or
sometimes potatoes sauteed with black cumin powder.
Also on the street carts as standard are Pani Puri hollowed out crispy dough balls with various
fillings, Aaloo Tikki - deep fried mashed potato and masala patties usually served with a curry
called Chholey (chick peas). They are most popular in Northern India in the winter. If youre on
a train, youll often be offered a Chaap, a potato patty dipped in flour batter and deep fried,
usually dished up with onion slices.
Indian Tea and Biscuits:
For a quick sweet snack, try a Chai-faen which is simply a combination of tea with a roasted
biscuit called "faen", or occasionally khaaree biscuit. Another tempting

sweet treat is Vada pav a great example of West Indian street food, eaten with Masala chai
which is a delicately spiced tea. For anyone with a real sweet tooth though, the ideal snack is a
jalebi or jangri, which is a syrup-covered deep-fried sweet available throughout India.
Regional Variations on Indian Fast Food:
Whats available on the streets to eat can understandably vary depending on where you are. For
example in Calcutta you can find ample street food, and the wide selection includes phuchka,
which is much loved in the city and thought to be the favourite snack. It consists of little dough
balls filled with all sorts of goodies, like mashed potato and herbs, and dunked in tamarind
water and cumin for flavour. Jhaal-mudi, another Calcutta specialty, consists of puffed rice
spiced with lemon and coriander and sometimes also mixed with peanuts, chopped onions, and
chilli.
In Calcutta, common varieties of fritter are the beguni (aubergines fried in chickpea batter),
phuluri (fried chickpea batter), and pakodas (assorted vegetables fried in chickpea batter). If
you want to stop and pass the time while you eat, Calcutta is also known for its rice hotels,
which serve rice-centric snack style meals.
Moving on to Kerala, in South India, the fast food there is available from thattukadas which
are covered catering carts fully kitted out stoves and utensils. They usually offer thattu dosa
which are rice-flour crepes fried in coconut oil and served with coconut chutney. Youll also
find thattukadas serving up omelettes, spicy pork , and parottas (like naan breads, but beaten
and mixed with oil).
Popular formats of fast food business in India have the following features in common:

Wide opening on the road side

Easy to maintain and durable dcor
A cash counter where food coupons are sold
A food delivery counter which invariably is granite topped

 Additional counters for Ice Creams, Chaats, Beverages etc.

A well fitted kitchen located so as to be visible to the customers
Tall tables, usually of stainless steel, where one can eat while standing
A drinking water fountain adorned with a water filter
Rust-proof and non-breakable crockery
Most of the fast food outlets in India are stand alone establishment, few of them having more
than one branch.
Fast food and its different categories:
Indian fast food/finger food-local
Family diners-udupi joints,thalis
Sandwich & salad parlours-Subway
Multi-cuisine food courts-Hangouts
Ice-cream and juice/beverage parlours-Baskins Robins,Mamamia
Indian "desserts" and "snack food" chains- Haldirams
Varieties of food offered:
The kind of fare they offer as of date could be just anything and everything. Preference of the
local population and the location of the outlet influence the menu more than anything else.
Some of the popular dishes offered at Indian fast food outlets are:
South Indian:
Idlis Rice Idli, Rava Idli
Vadas Uddina Vada, Rava Vada, Masala Vada, Maddur Vada
Dosas - Masala Dosas, Set Dosa, Rava Dosa
Upma, Kesaribhath
Puliyogere

 Pongal
Vangibhath
Vegetable Bonda
Others:
Bonda Soup
Bajjis Banana Bajji, Green Chili Bajji
Pakoras Onion Pakora, Vegetable Pakora
Thalis- vegetable, Chicken, Mutton
Rajma rice
Omelette bread
Chinese food
Pasta
Burgers(chicken, mutton, veg)
Wraps & rolls
Grilled chicken
Samosa, patties, bread pakoda
Milkshakes
Doner kabab
Dum biryani
Fish & chips
Salads
Momas
Fruit beer
Chicken wings

 Grilled Sandwich
Mutar kulcha
Pav bhaji
Stuffed paratha
Fruid salad
Idli sambar
Vada sambar
Dahiwada
Fried Rice
Noodles
Mini Meals
Pizzas
Beverages:
Coffee
Tea
Lassi
Aerated Drinks
Fresh fruit juice