KFC owner giving up fried chicken for fresh food

[alp227]

Source: CBC

A franchise owner for 10 KFC restaurants in Newfoundland says she's giving up the fried chicken business and converting her restaurants to healthier fare.

Renee Marquis said she's rebranding her restaurants as Oppy's Diner. The menu will focus on fresh, home-cooked meals from recipes used by her mother and aunts.

"People are ready to have homemade food —served well, served simply, and good value," declared Marquis.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2012/07/10/nl-710-kfc-franchise-healthy-food.html

[SunSeeker]

1. I want an Oppy's Diner near my house! nt

[patrice]

2. SPRING ROLLS!!!! Spring Rolls! Spring Rolls! Spring Rolls! Spring Rolls! Spring Rolls! Spring Rolls!

Fried and not-Fried.

Veggie and meat.

Cool sauces.

Tea.

[SylviaD]

3. Not to be cynical but...

...could this change of heart be due to lower KFC sales in Newfoundland? As far as I know, people who live there like healthier fare such as seafood. I would bet the KFC experiment has not been a success there.

[MADem]

4. That's what I was thinking, too--the franchise fees aren't justified by the poor sales. nt

[LynneSin]

5. I always thought there was a market for something like this

Like why not a fast-food restaurant that has only healty vegetarian meals?

I think what this guy is doing is great!

[razorman]

6. I guess we'll see. I certainly wish her luck.

However, I think most people will make noise about how much they love and want healthier food choices. But, when it comes time to pony up and spend their money, they go for the other stuff. On a side note, I worked for KFC in my high school years, when it was called "Kentucky Fried Chicken". Ask some young people what "KFC" stands for. I would be surprised if more than 50% get it right. It is marketing; the same way that breakfast cereals no longer have the word, "sugar" in the name. "Sugar Smacks" became "Golden Smacks". "Sugar Frosted Flakes" are now just "Frosted Flakes", etc. Same junk, just a more innocent-sounding name. This is just one my pet peeves.

[grasswire]

13. there was a chain in Portland called Macheezmo Mouse

It was fantastic healthy food -- everyone agreed! Sort of fusion between Asian and Mexican, with various bowls and wraps and so on. After many years of popularity, it folded. I don't know why, because people still miss it.

So -- even in a foodie town like Portland, the healthy fast food chain didn't last more than twenty years.

[JBoy]

7. Fresh seal flipper pie!

[surrealAmerican]

8. I wish her success in her new venture.

I imagine somebody else will open new franchises for KFC anyway, but at least she'll be selling something she believes in.

[longship]

9. LBN: KFC serves unfresh chickens!

In response, Renee Marquis opens Newfoundland Fried Bacon franchise, hereafter NFB.


Just kidding.

[SDjack]

10. Hope this helps -- recipe that I picked up in New Brunswick.

Recipe for Newfie eel.

1. Stretch the 50-cm (20-in) eel (with head and skin left on) on a buttered cedar plank and season with black pepper and salt.
2. Nail each end of the eel to the plank.
3. Bake in pre-heated oven at 175 deg-C (350 deg-F) for about 25 minutes; remove when done.
4. Cool on side board for 10 minutes.
5. Remove the nails.
6. Carefully remove the eel, transfer it to an aluminum foil sheet, and roll and crimp to seal it.
7. Toss the packet of eel into the trash can.
8. Eat the cedar plank cooking board.

Folks in New Brunswick swear to the authenticity of this recipe.

[DeSwiss]

11. LOL!

- The Colonel approves this recipe!




K&R

[Archae]

12. I have my doubts.

Most people go out to eat not for the healthy stuff.
I say MOST people.

Here in Sheboygan, a Marc's Big Boy was bought by a guy who changed the menu to healthy stuff, no more deep fried and veggies.

It's an empty lot now.

[rocktivity]

14. There's no such thing as fresh chicken in Newfoundland?

Or healthy oils to fry it in?


rocktivity

[dhol82]

15. anybody read the comments section?

looks like the locals are not happy about it.
sort of goes with the 'if we want crap, we want it' mentality.
matches up with the heartland.

[alp227]

16. The "highest rated" comments support the owner.

The unhappy comments generally are downvoted.