Foods Item of Bangladesh

The prepared topic is about Food items in Bangladesh 

Introduction: Food can fulfill one of the most important physiological needs of human being. Human beings cannot live without air for a single minute, but without food, they also cannot survive. Food provides us with the necessary nutrition for our body. Its importance is indispensable. Due to the differences in human cultures, geographic locations, environment, climate etc. food items tend to change.

Some might change in terms of ingredients (soybean oil in Asia/Palm oil in other continents), some might change in terms of presentation (food spread over banana leaves in India/on ceramic plates in other places), whereas some food items may change in terms of cooking (ovens in the west, gas/wood stove in the east) and eating methods (using spoons & forks in the west as opposed to using chopsticks or hand in the east). Sometimes, entirely new branch of food types are also found in some places of the world. One such type of food is Fast Food.  Now a day, fast food is an important food item of the people of the world. In Bangladesh especially in Dhaka city, the habit of taking fast food is also growing day by day. 

Those who are living in the Dhaka city the tendency to consume fast food is more in them compared to the people living in the rural areas of Bangladesh. This habit has been changed because of the urgency of the people. As a society develops, the economic activities are also increased and, therefore, people become busier in that society. This busyness of the people discourages them to prepare food at their houses. Thus, the only alternative is to consume food that is already prepared by others and preferably light food. A number of factors are considered by the people when they select fast food. Hence, this study was designed to identify the factors related to the preferences of the consumers of fast food in Dhaka city.

The prime objective of this study is to develop a consumer behavioral profile for the fast-food industry in Bangladesh by identifying the preference factors. The specific factors are as follows.

i. To describe the fast food industry of Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

ii. To identify the consumer preferences of the fast food products in Dhaka city.

iii. To identify the factors related to consumer preferences of the fast food products in Dhaka city.

iv. The group influence regarding fast food choices.

2.   Fast food

Fast food (also known as Quick Service Restaurant or QSR within the industry itself) 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 preheated or precooked ingredients, 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 non-franchised 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.

    3.   Popular Fast Food Brands and Shops in Dhaka City

The fast food culture started in Bangladesh in the nineties and became very popular. Fast food affects a community in many aspects. It is mainly geared towards the younger end of the market and the employees of the fast paced corporate world. The preparation and service times are relatively quick in case of fast food. Fast food can be clearly distinguished from snack/confectionery items by its perishable nature. Being a part of the developing countries, Bangladesh has her fair share of this fast food action. Starting around 90’s, the fast food culture has taken the country by storm. The first fast food shops started their businesses in the Bailly (a name of a road) road, beside the guide house auditorium. After that, the number of fast food shops started to grow exponentially. Local entrepreneurs were leaders in pioneering the fast food industry of Bangladesh. New brands i.e. Swiss, Helvetia etc. were to name some Bangladeshi fast food shops. In early 2000, Bangladesh saw the entry of the first international brand of fast food franchise come into the country. Pizza Hut and later KFC came into the Bangladeshi market having franchise with Transcom Foods Limited. Transcom Foods Limited (TFL) started its journey in 2003 as a franchisee of Pizza Hut, the first International Chain Restaurant in Bangladesh, and went on to sign the contract to become the franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in the year 2006.

Following its enormous success in Gulshan, the second outlet was opened in Dhanmondi (a name of place at Dhaka) in November 2008, and yet another in Banani in December 2008.8

For our research, we selected the local fast food shops which were operating for a long time here in Bangladesh, in the capital city of Dhaka. We selected them using our exploratory research, by asking the respondents to recall the names of top 5 local fast food shops. The chains of fast food stores mostly residing on the Baily road like the ancient Swiss, Capital, Bamboo Castle, Palki, Dahlia, Golpea, Euro Hut, Golden Food and Dominous pizza came up9. According to a Whimpy branch, an international fast food franchise based in the United Kingdom, in Dhamondi- a residential area in Dhaka, Children under 12 and their parents accounts for 70 to 80% the customers10. For this research, we needed to have secondary data regarding the fast food industry of Bangladesh. It was assumed that there were some forms of owner’s association will be operating in the capital city as well as the whole country- given the vast spread of the fast food shops. But unfortunately this was not the case. In our observation of the major fast food shops in the capital city Dhaka, we could not find any such fast food owners’ association or such.

Besides these most prominent fast food brands there are more fast food brands in Bangladesh. These are JOLLY VEE,  PIZZA PALACE , STAR KEBAB , LET'S EAT , CHOP GHAR ,SPICE & TEA ,  MEAL IN THE BOX ,  AMERICAN BURGER , DONALIA GOLPEA BURGER ,  MR. BROAST ,  ARABIAN FAST FOOD ,  HELVETIA , HOT HUT , EURO HUT  ,  BIG BITE , WIMPYS  ,  YUMMY YUMMY,AMERICAN FRIED CHICKEN ,  DAHLIA'S ,  CANDY FLOSS , DOMINOUS PIZZA ,FRIENDLY,  MARHABA BROAST,  FUSION SNACKS & CONFECTIONERY etc.

4.   Factors Related to Consumers’ Preferences of Fast Food Products

When there was not enough time to prepare a ‘traditional’ meal, varieties of fast foods were chosen by girls and young women and these food are relate to fast food. However, the study suggested that more detailed experimental analysis would be able to determine the effect of perceptual attributes on consumer demand as well. Specific qualities of taste, consumer self-esteem, the reputation of each restaurant and other non-measurable may be relevant to a comprehensive treatment of an attribute-based fast food model. The five factors most commonly included in respondents’ rankings were: (1) range of food; (2) quality of food; (3) price of food; (4) atmosphere; and (5) speed of service. The quality of food and types of food were the key determinants of restaurant choice/customer loyalty in this study. In general, then, evidence from all these studies suggests that the more concrete factors play the most important role in the consumer’s choice of a dining-out unit. Besides the factors related to the dining-out unit it, those related to the customer’s socio-cultural background are also influential in their dining-out behavior. For example, attitudes, social values, family influences, group influences, social class and cultural background are also important in determining choice (Buttle 1986; Bareham 1995). After concluding our initial exploratory study we were able to identify the actors which might be related to consumers’ preference of fast food products in case of Bangladesh such as, (i) Time factors (Delivery time, cue management etc.), (ii) Cost factors (Price of items etc.) (iii) Hygiene factors (Clean packaging, hygiene records etc.), (IV) Convenience factors (Location proximity, accessibility etc.) (v) Taste factors (Uniqueness, less variability of taste), (vi) Brand factors (vii) Group influence factors (Friends etc.) (vii) Nutrition factors, and (viii) Shop environment factors (Personnel, decoration of shop etc.).

5.   Different fast foods in Dhaka city

The common type of fast food including Bengali and foreign foods are burger, sandwich, vegetable roll, chicken roll, chamucha, singara, pizza, meat loaf, noodles, shawmin, mglai parata, puri, piagoo, potato chop, French fries, prawn ball, chicken ball, brinjal chop, Sharma kebab, fried chicken, egg chop, vegetable chop etc. These are main type of existing fast food in Dhaka city. Most of these are foreign originated. These are found in every corner of Dhaka city. These are the common item of fast food in Dhaka city some of these are filled with nutrition values that can provide nutrition of a full meal. But most of these are health destructive. Moreover most of these foods are made and served in an unhealthy environment. Before taking these foods we should think about the nutrition fact and the sources of the production of these foods

6.   Side Effects

We are living in modern age. The modern age is full business. To save our time we often take fast food. This habit turns towards danger. There are lots of side effects of fast food. Different type of diseases are causing because of fast food eating habit.

Maintaining nutritional balance is not easy with fast food, because there is no control over how they are cooked. For example, some are cooked with a lot of oil and butter, and there may be no option if you want your selection with reduced fat.

The large portions also encourage overeating. Fast food also tends to lack fresh fruits and vegetables.

In general, people with high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease must be much more careful about choosing fast food, due to the high content of fat, sodium, and sugar

7.   Nutritious Fast Food

Not all fast food is bad. Today, more and more fast food restaurants are offering healthier options and new menu items. There are also ways you can customize your order to be healthy for you. If you are looking for ways to cut down on some of the calories and extra fat in many fast food options, try some of the tips listed below.

• Don't order the biggest sizes. While it may seem like a bargain to super-size your order, it is no bargain for your health. The largest sizes have the most fat, calories, sugar and sodium, and you will probably be just as satisfied with a smaller portion.
• Sugar soda is full of sugar and calories, but it does not fill you up. It is important to stay hydrated, but make a smarter choice and select skim or low-fat milk, fruit juice, diet soda or water.
• Sauces such as mayonnaise, tartar sauce, some spreads or salad dressing can add loads of extra fat and calories where you might not need them, as can cheese, sour cream, guacamole, gravy and "special" sauces. Order a sandwich without the condiments, or ask for them on the side so you can add your own. Most places give you more salad dressing than you need, so add it yourself and don't use the whole packet. Chose low-fat or reduced fat options when possible. Salads are a healthy option, especially with a healthier dressing.
• Generally, fried foods are not the best choice. Choose items that are labeled as grilled or baked.
• Go for the kids menu. The portions are smaller, and you can usually make substitutions. Another option is to bring half of what you order home to eat later instead of all in one sitting.
• Choose from the items labeled as "healthy" or "light." Most places now offer special sections on their menu.

Fast food does not have to be bad for you. By making smart choices, eating fast food restaurants

8.   Conclusion

This study identified that brand reputation is the most important factor of the fast food consumers in Dhaka city as well as Bangladesh followed by closeness and accessibility, similar taste of fast food, cost and quality relationship, discount & taste, clean and hygiene, salesmanship and decoration, fat & cholesterol, and self-service. Brand reputation is the most important factor of the fast food consumers in Bangladesh followed by closeness and accessibility, similar taste of fast food, cost and quality relationship, discount & taste, clean and hygiene, salesmanship and decoration, fat & cholesterol, and self-service. Brand reputation of the fast food is number one factor used by the students in selecting the items. Regression analysis between the factors identified through factor analysis and the energy impact of fast food are conducted. It identified that the factors related to students’ preferences have about 23% impact on the energy of the students. The preference factors related to the fast food choice of the students are as a whole significantly related to the overall energizing capacity of the fast food. 

The factors like brand reputation, closeness and accessibility, similar taste of fast food, and cost and quality relationship are the significant factors. This means that these factors have significant relationship with the energy gained by the students by consuming fast food. The factors have significant relationship with the preference of fast food of the students whenever they are out of their houses. This also indicates that brand reputation, discount, and taste induce the students to consume fast food when they are out of their home. Regression analysis between the preference factors of the students and good impact of fast food on the students’ lifestyle were also run. The preference factors related to the positive impact of fast food on the students’ lifestyle are as a whole significantly related to the preference of the fast food when the students are out of their home. The factors such as, closeness and accessibility, and cost and quality relationship are the significant factors independently. This means that the factors have significant relationship with the lifestyle of the students. If there is a change there will be change in their lifestyle.

This study recommends that the fast food producers or distributors at Dhaka should focus more on the brand reputation, closeness or proximity and accessibility, cost, quality, discount, and taste factors. If they are able to ensure or fulfill these needs, university students of Bangladesh will be induced to buy and consume fast food whenever they are out of their houses. However, there is an ample scope to conduct study on the preference factors used by the office-goers, housewives, and or visitors in buying fast food in Bangladesh.

  

   References

1.    Wikipedia

2.    Dhaka city corporation website.

3.    www. Business face bd.com

4.    Heinemann, Oxford, U.K.

5.    Research on Culture of Dhaka city{by a group of student of NSU}

6.    Restaurants, Review of Agricultural Economics—Volume 30, Number 4—Pages 750–763

7.    Bowman, Shanthy A., Steven L. Gortmaker, PhD; Cara B. Ebbeling, PhD; Mark A. Pereira, PhD.