Why are all the size proportions going up in fast food restaurants these days?

Question

Just recently I went to Wendy's and I ordered a small drink and a small fry. They gave me a soda that's usually the size of a medium drink. I asked if they made a mistake and they said that it was no mistake and it was a small. Then I looked at the fries and they were bigger too. I was told that the reason Europe is so much skinnier than America is because they have smaller portions. For example, Their size large is the size of our kiddy cup. But instead of following them, we went the total opposite way. Why?

Answer 1

Think of it this way: In the dining room, there are free refills, and if you get a small, you are likely going to just refill it anyways. In the drive-through, there is no such option, and they prefer having more in their drink.

As far as fry portion, or any other side, there is an demand for freshness. Let's face it, when they slap my fries on my tray, and they sit there for the minute (or more) that it takes for the burger to catch up, I ask for hot fries. With such demand, the cost goes up a little, and what follows is value for the money, thus an increase in the portion size.

As to why people get so fat, that comes from people thinking that restaurants are responsible for monitoring people's diets. Ask your self these questions: Should people have to stand on scales while ordering, and if they weigh too much, should the restaurant turn people away? If an obese person orders, should the restaurant give them a diet soda and an apple?

Answer 2

If I remember right, and I'm sure I do thy have gone back down in the size of their food, lets use McDonald's, what you are used to calling Supper size fries used to be a large Fri, and what you are now used to calling a small fri, used to only be given in the then known, brand new kiddie meal. their regular plain hamburger used to be almost just shy of a 1/4 bounder, then Burger king came out with the 1/4 bounder, it was bigger and better, over time Micky D, dropped their size of the plain burger, and price, now thy have the big n tasty, that is almost like the original, with a much higher price tag, and their plain is up their to.
so to put it simply the sizes are actually going down, and the prices are going up, that is just the way economics works, sorry kid.

Answer 3

It all comes down to maximizing profitability by the fast food companies and their key suppliers. Think of it this way... the old 32 oz "large" soft drink actually cost a fast food company 6 cents but they charged the customer $1.29, netting a profit of $1.23. Now, the 44 oz "large" costs them 9 cents and they sell it for $1.79, netting $1.70 per customer. With 2/3 of customers buying the "large" size, whatever that may be, they've just improved their profitability on soft drinks from $1.23 to $1.70, a 38% increase, without doing anything more or different!

Capitalism at its finest! Grab a couple of triple cheeseburgers and a super-size fry for me while you're at it.

Answer 4

People want more for thier money. We've grown up in a society that puts an emphasis on eating, yet demeans people who are overweight from eating too much. The fast food places are trying to get more customers by offering them more food for the same prices or lower prices then their competitors, which only makes the circle worse. Ain't it great to live in America...

Answer 5

Not all of them are - Try ordering anything from Hardees in Chester Illinois, The last Hardees/Red Burrito meal I ordered was so skimpy, I took it back and got a refund.

This was the second time it happened, so they lost any future business from me.

Darryl S.

Answer 6

Didnt' Wendys get rid of Biggie Size? I know McDonalds did out with their super size meals.

Answer 7

It is an issue of economics. If nobody bought the larger-sized portions it would not be long before sizes started shrinking.

Answer 8

its kind of scary to see how fat america is today. America has got to cut the food and we should cut the jumbo sizes of meals. its like once you get married or start aging you have to get fat. im not going to be that next fat person thats a promise to myself. Anyways the companies dont care its just business to them.

Answer 9

It's just an American lifestyle though I find it disgusting. Also, have you ever been to England? Their burgers are ******* huge and boiled in lard like American ones but 1/25 children are obese compared to our 1/3. Interesting....

Answer 10

In an advertising campaign, this appeals to the idea that you get more for your money and that you get a "better" value by getting more of something, in this case food, for your dollar.