Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

kottke.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 177 posts

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#31

Post by saghm »

amiga386 wrote: post #8

Sanders in 1963 on What's my Line? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk4Eq8IcQMk And a video on the history of Sanders' fight with KFC corporate, and what exactly is in the seasoning? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WJYOgzFydc My takeaway is that Sanders cared about serving quality fast food, and KFC corporate cared about reducing costs and doing brand necromancy. The upshot is you won't get KFC chicken at KFC, just…

> My takeaway is that Sanders cared about serving quality fast food, and KFC corporate cared about reducing costs and doing brand necromancy. The upshot is you won't get KFC chicken at KFC, just a pale, cheap imitation of the original

Assuming that's the case, the anecdote in the article of him walking into the kitchen in a random KFC and berating the people for making the chicken the was they did seems a bit unfair; it's not like the random people working there had any choice in the corporate policies or autonomy to choose to make the chicken in a different way. I get that he was frustrated and that this wasn't the only way he tried to fight the changes, but it shouldn't be that hard to have a little empathy for the presumably minimum wage workers who are just there to earn a paycheck.

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#32

Post by fifilura »

peanut_worm wrote: post #7

Miracle whip in coleslaw? Not sure I can trust his judgement

Fantastic rabbit-hole for me as an European! I had never heard of Miracle Whip (or Miracel whip" (sic!) as sold in Germany)

Maybe it is the secret ingredient to a perfect cole slaw? More sweet and more mustard. I would really like to try, but I need to find an import shop for this magic paste!

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#33

Post by interpunct »

dsr_ wrote: post #12
interpunct wrote: post #10

I guess he would need an "Extreme Makeover" to go on "Undercover Boss". My dad was the financial controller for a large pizza chain in the '70s--they used to send him into the field to do spot checks, which was progressive IMO.

It was a well-documented technique of quality control across industries by 1940.

And still meticulously adhered to, I'm sure.

I guess you mean "management by walking around"? For perspective, we had TQM in the '90s, which consisted of orders to tell TQM consultants that we knew where the TQM manuals were at, if we couldn't otherwise avoid "The TQM Bobs".

The corporate headquarters building my dad worked in was also considered progressive and employee friendly in the '70s--with natural lighting and office noise abatement (with white noise piped in, for example).

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#34

Post by infotainment »

dzink wrote: post #26

The first and second times I visited KFC in the US I was shocked there were no vegetables in their sandwiches. Other than the corn, and coleslaw, no lettuce or other ingredients in the sandwiches. In europe, and China and any other country I’ve seen KFC they have amazing Zinger sandwiches with lattice and sauces and grea flavor. We make it a point to never go to KFC in the US.

One thing I find utterly depressing is how literally every American fast food chain has infinitely better quality and taste in their overseas locations.

Evidently they save their absolute worst products for their home market.

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#35

Post by julesnp »

gruez wrote: post #29
dghughes wrote: post #16

I remember the day when KFC started "boiling" the chicken it went from crispy to soggy. Here in Canada currently there's big controversy KFC went halal. No more bacon!

>Here in Canada currently there's big controversy KFC went halal Source? Was it just the chicken or the entire restaurant?

The entire restaurant.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kfc-halal-menu-boycott-1.7258...

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#36

Post by spywaregorilla »

infotainment wrote: post #34
dzink wrote: post #26

The first and second times I visited KFC in the US I was shocked there were no vegetables in their sandwiches. Other than the corn, and coleslaw, no lettuce or other ingredients in the sandwiches. In europe, and China and any other country I’ve seen KFC they have amazing Zinger sandwiches with lattice and sauces and grea flavor. We make it a point to never go to KFC in the US.

One thing I find utterly depressing is how literally every American fast food chain has infinitely better quality and taste in their overseas locations. Evidently they save their absolute worst products for their home market.

well the flip side take is that other countries put a premium on the american brands we consider trashy

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#37

Post by CrazyStat »

spywaregorilla wrote: post #36
infotainment wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing I find utterly depressing is how literally every American fast food chain has infinitely better quality and taste in their overseas locations. Evidently they save their absolute worst products for their home market.

well the flip side take is that other countries put a premium on the american brands we consider trashy

In Managua, Nicaragua ca. 2000 McDonalds was a sit down restaurant with waiters.

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#39

Post by hasmolo »

spacecadet wrote: post #19
gumby wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting that it only happens on the west coast, eh? You’ve never seen a homeless person anywhere else?

Yes, but there is significantly more of it happening, optically, on the west coast than anywhere else in the United States. What is San Diego's unofficial name? "The Home of the Homeless". Before you flame, I spent years touring the United States, living and photographing homeless people and communities. West Coasters should really stop getting defensive and take action, if it actually matters to you all. All that we…

imho it comes from western states not simply rounding them up. in atlanta, before the peach bowl the cops would descend on downtown, arrest all the homeless, bus them up to cherokee, and then the time it took them to return was greater than the length of the event.

now that's a little less common and the yearly doctor conference has noticed the homeless and is complaining about it. i think homelessness is a consequence not of any one area but of the american way of doing things. we treat it as an incurable disease, like addiction, but that we don't care enough about to fix.

Re: For the Colonel, It Was Finger-Lickin’ Bad (1976)

#40

Post by nradov »

fifilura wrote: post #24
ahartmetz wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Understandable (as in: I could see myself acting like that if I had a company to sell), but also, you sold it, what did you expect? Did you believe some legally not enforceable promises because you wanted the money and were willing to lie to yourself?

There are many ways to loose control of your company without selling it upfront. For example if you take money from an minority investor with the promise of an IPO (so they can make profit from their minority share). After the company goes public, control is much more iffy. You may for example not have your place in the board anymore even though you are majority owner.

You're not making any sense. Unless the majority owner has a different share class with reduced voting rights then they can absolutely control the Board.
Post reply on HN