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More Rich Americans Dining on Fast Food

Looks like a lot of well-off Americans have been putting on the ketchup instead of the ritz lately. According to CNNMoney.com, the wealthiest among us have taken to fast food like a robin to a spring worm -- and gobbling it up just as fast. CNN quotes an American Express study that shows spending on fast food up by 4% among the company's most affluent customers (which represents 10% of overall consumers) for the last quarter of 2010.

Why? Just like everyone else, the rich like to save a buck, especially since the recession has hit many of them, too. And there are a lot more "acceptable" choices now among chains -- did someone say Chipotle? -- in addition to new high-end spin-offs like McCafe, where you can sip a cappuccino or a latte and pretend you've just come from shopping on the Via Veneto (if only all your bags didn't say "Target"). In addition, many places now offer salads, which convey a sense of healthy eating. So next time you're behind the BMW in the drive-through at Burger King, don't be surprised by the bumper sticker that reads: "Honk if you make six figures."

Filed Under: Business, Chain Stores / Restaurants
Tags: fast food

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 2)

Caviar

3-02-2011 @9:39AM Caviar said... It's a great shame when even the wealthy people start eating fast food. Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned caviar and brie?
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Kobebeef

3-02-2011 @9:44AM Kobebeef said... I agree with you, Caviar. Why don't they realize that eating that food is unbecoming of them? Personally, I hate fast food.
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Divagal

3-02-2011 @9:55AM Divagal said... Fast food: lame.
Fast food junkies: lame.
Rich kids buying fast food: Super lame!
Really, that's all I can say politely about this.
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Joe

3-02-2011 @10:01AM Joe said... Really? I think that, no matter how much status anyone has, surely they can save some money by, say, going to a fast food place. Honestly, lighten up!
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Divagal

3-02-2011 @10:07AM Divagal said... Lighten up? LIGHTEN UP?! Hey, Joe, nobody's going to lighten up against fast food. Cool rich people do not eat fast food, that is a fact!
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frank

3-02-2011 @10:39AM frank said... I don't know about anywhere else, but fast food really isn't all that cheap these days. I can go to a locally owned restaurant and get a freshly made meal that's healthier and taste better than most of the offerings of fast food.
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Donny

3-02-2011 @10:11AM Donny said... @Divagal:
I can understand how you feel. However, with our current economy, we cannot afford to waste money on expensive foods and jewelery and the like. Therefore, it's understandable that rich people would go to your average fast food joint.
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Onlythebest

3-02-2011 @10:16AM Onlythebest said... Way to go, Divagal! I like your statement against lame fast food. Rich people should spend money like it's going out of style, and not on fast food lameness!
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Wattyler81

3-02-2011 @10:27AM Wattyler81 said... Jeez, what's with you, Divagal? Are most of us here out of touch with the current economic situation? We eat food just to survive, not the other way around!
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Sunking89

3-02-2011 @10:31AM Sunking89 said... Shut it, Wattyler81! I don't like it when some upstart starts supporting fast food garbage! Besides, I am the state!
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jessiebella

3-02-2011 @10:37AM jessiebella said... whoever made those remarks about fast food is lame for rich ppl better be rich ppl. and who cares where the hell they eat? maybe their palette isnt good for the cavier and what not maybe a good o'l juicy hamburger and fries does it for them? food is food period. let them eat whatever the hell they want, its not your money to be spending.
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Algorhythm

3-02-2011 @10:43AM Algorhythm said... Cvool your jwets, Sunking89! I don't see anmy reasopn why amnyuone woulsd ave ha lfame awr over somnethinbg sop tyrivbial asd ha amburghre! Pi ersdonmally aspoloigisde fgor bnutytyinmg in heer.
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Divagal

3-02-2011 @10:49AM Divagal said... HEY! Jessiebella! You are egregiously foolish to think that food is food. It isn't. There are two different types of food: Food proper, such as caviar and brie, and Food en masse, such as hamburgers and fried worms. The former is by far better than the latter because of the fact that it is devoured by the rich, and therefore is a lot better than a filthy worm-infested cheeseburger! So there.
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Marc

3-02-2011 @10:50AM Marc said... Didn't Bare Naked Ladies say it best? If they had a million dollars, they would still eat Kraft dinner...just more of it. I don't see why people on here are surprised. If you like a Big Mac, it doesn't taste any worse if you can buy 500 of them.
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Caviar

3-02-2011 @10:53AM Caviar said... Divagal is super right! Food proper, as she calls it, is definately trump over some measly little taco!
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Algorhythm

3-02-2011 @10:55AM Algorhythm said... Si uppotr yuo, Marc! oofd is oofd is oofd is oofd!
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Brie

3-02-2011 @11:03AM Brie said... Fast food is definately a rich kid's faux pas, but barbeque places are even worse! The furniture is filthy, the food has too much sauce on it, and the overall atmosphere is not something I'd recommend.
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Mike

3-02-2011 @11:07AM Mike said... I don't know about you, Brie, but I really like barbeque.
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Swanpie

3-02-2011 @11:15AM Swanpie said... That disgusts me, Mike. Why would any decent gentleman actually WANT to eat at a lowly barbeque place? I'd prefer a royal banquet over that rubbish!
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Dana

3-02-2011 @12:19PM Dana said... First who gives a damn where ppl eat... It is the choice of the person. Ppl should worry about what they eat not what other ppl eat....
Second: what the hell happend to an good ole home cooked meal... And BBQ is great........Some places to the eye might not look good, but some have been the best place I have ever ate at..... So, in other words just worry about yourself and not others. You can't change what other people do.,...

31 Comments / 2 Pages

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