Drishtikon: A Management Journal

1. Souji Gopalakrishna Pillai

2. Kavitha Haldorai

3. G.ravindran

4. R.prabhu

Received
04-Jun-2026
Accepted
-
Published
04-Jun-2026
Abstract
It is important to understand social and environmental factors related to fast food consumption because they influence eating habits. The globalization taking place across the world increase the global connectivity and integration in the economic, social, technological, cultural, political and ecological spheres. As a part of this, the social aspect of fast food behaviour influences the eating habits of people globally. The globalization convergence of patterns of production and consumption is resulting in speedy service system even at door steps. A fast food restaurant also known as Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) is a specific type of restaurant characterized both by its fast food cuisine and by minimal table. The fast food industry spends over million dollars a year on catchy slogans to lure customers past the door of the competition. This enables the cultural food habits of different countries to meet on a common platform. McDonaldization is a term used by sociologist George (1993) which explains when a society takes on the characteristics of fast food restaurants. The multinational food giants like Burger King, McDonald, KFC, Domino’s Pizza, Baskin and Robbins, Sushi King, Star Bucks, Pizza Hut, Merry Brown conquered the hearts of people. The Malaysian food market is influenced by these fast food chains resulting in changing consumption choices. The New Straits Times(2008) recently highlighted the government’s action on banning fast food ads in the wake of it’s prioritized concern over the alarming decline of the population’s health, while the consumption of fast food products being the main suspecting factor of this uprising calamity. Mirandah (2008).Many working parents feeling guilty about spending less time with their kids, started spending money on them. The country’s farms are replaced by gigantic corporate farms with absentee ownership. The study says that the people are socially influenced to fast foods the due to micro and macro environment factors. The micro environment consists of family, schools, neighborhood where as the macro environment consists of economical, political and cultural people are influenced by the environments both being socially influenced by peers choices, social norms, health care, media, faith and religion etc. in selecting the brands. From the study it was found out that the brand name has the highest influence while choosing the fast food. The respondents consuming these food products to a greater extent fall under the age group 15 to 22. The study will highlight the views of Malaysians on multinational fast food companies and the reasons for accepting them. Key Words: Fast foods, McDonaldization, Consumption, Food Habits, Micro and macro environments
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