Starbucks

Aaah Starbucks. I do love a good Starbucks, occassionally. It’s just so damn expensive. And what with a revenue for the year ending 2007 of $9.411 billion. That’s a hell of a lot of money, some $60 contributed by me. And then there’s the 172,000 employees that work for Starbucks. Poor saps. My good friend Leigh has come up with another witty quip, calling Starbucks employees “Foreigniano”. Sounds Italian, with a hint of foreign about it. In all my time, I think I’ve seen one British employee at the many different Starbucks in and around London that I’ve been to. It’s as if a new Starbucks opens every week somewhere in the country. One just opened locally near me a few weeks ago. It’s now my hub for working on the laptop, drinking coffee, and generally meeting people. But, you may ask, what is it I have against Starbucks?

There are some good things too. Such as how Starbucks was voted one of the best companies to work for in the UK, according to the Financial Times survey of 2008. In contrast to this, 61 of the 84 Starbucks stores across Australia have recently been closed due to Starbucks wanting to focus it’s priorites on Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Many people have criticised Starbucks for this, saying that a country rich in coffee culture that has had 75% of stores closed is ridiculous. And I, for one, agree. Starbucks doesn’t need the money, they’re already a company making billions of dollars a year, and, of the 29 countries that Starbucks is currently in, I’m not quite sure that closing off 75% of one country will do them much harm.

Now onto how the Foreignianos (it’s catching on, isn’t it?) treat the customers. Each and every time I walk into Starbucks, I’m greeted by a saturnine melancholy of drowning hope as I walk up to the counter to order. It’s dreadful. And charging £3.50 for blended milk, ice and a bit of caramel/chocolate/strawberry flavouring. Profit, much? And the way that Starbucks has simply taken over out world and lives, it’s quite bemusing. Or how about £4.00 for a cup of coffee with “rich Arabica coffee beans that gives off a sumptuous aroma”. Instant coffee with some cream is what I say.

Then there’s the whole “We’re corporate and we need to protect our image. Go green. Environment!”. A lot of a crap. Starbucks use so much water and paper everyday, it’s unbearable. Just because you’re a corporate company doesn’t mean you have to advertise your stupid “Go green” campaign.

And my final bit of utter rubbish that shouldn’t be. Paying extra money for eating in. What. The. Hell?! Honestly, that money is just going to go to the huge power struggle at the top to which only the CEO and his partners will benefit.  I would, however, completely agree if the extra money from eating in went to the Foreignianos that worked there. They need it. And then think about the extra money Starbucks rake in (I’ve actually got to thank my good friend BenG for this one). 20 pence extra per average sit down meal. On average, 200 customers per store per day. Around 700 or so stores. That’s a few thousand pounds extra per day. And it all adds up.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to sign off. My Caramel Créme Frappucino© is getting cold.

October

So, today’s the first of the month of October, and with it we look forward to such things as Hallowe’en. Today is also the first day of Eid (the end of the fasting month of Ramadan) in the Islamic religion, and it’s also the second day of Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year). So, to the millions of people 3 people who actually read this, happy Eid, happy Rosh Hashana, and look forward to the month of October. As promised, on Monday, another rant by me, with a subject of Starbucks and it’s corporate measure on society.

McDonalds

Ahh  McDonalds. A treat once a week for me when I was a kid. Not that I’m not one now. For me, it was pleasureable food, a joyous experience and a fantastic meal. But then when I turned 15, I started to realise the ingredients in the food. Not good. On a more general scale, I started realising how low the people who take the orders for the customers  (or McPricks as my friend Leigh kindly suggested) are in the grand corporate world that is: McDonalds Corp.

A seemingly wholesome family treat, but underneath the food is something larger: an empire. An empire where the head honcho earns mega-bucks, and an empire where the lowest people earn peanuts. A horrible truth, so why do we need to live in such a world? Surely a franchised McDonalds system would work better? And what about the pay that these poor workers receive? And the low low percentage of “chicken” in the “Chicken” McNuggets.. what’s that all about?

Well, we live in such a world because there are some greedy bastards out there who fight for every penny. Have they earned it? Some say they have, but how the hell did they get so far up? Surely they started off as mere toilet cleaners (hey, not that it’s a bad job, someone’s gotta do it, and I, quite frankly, admire the people who do) and worked there up the crazy pyramid hierachy that is the corporate world?

A franchised McDonalds system would work a lot better; more money for the staff, less money for the corporate heads. A win-win situation. And perhaps that could lead to better food for the paying customer. Perhaps…

The pittance that these workers receive is quite honestly disgraceful. Many of them come from other countries, seeking better money and conditions, and then they come and work at… McDonalds. Not exactly a Utopian society, nevertheless, the little money they earn is enough to support the family back home. But it could, and very well should, be more.

Interesting, yet utterly disgusting fact: Before 1998, the “Chicken” McNuggets were just 30% poultry. An awful figure, one that has since been dealt wealth. Most of the other 70% were preservatives and additives, along with various E-numbers. After 1998, the “Chicken” McNuggets actually became Chicken McNuggets, rocketing up to a quite impressive figure for McDonalds: 98%. Obviously, there has to be some sort of additive and preservative. Still, if it’s not 100%, I’m not eating it.

In conclusion, I strongly feel that McDonalds Corp should just split up and become a franchised company to give business owners newer, more fiscally safe and viable investing opportunities. And, admittedly, their menu has since become ever-so slightly more healthy. But, I still won’t eat there. Together, we can break down this huge empire, as the rest of the world did two millenia ago with the Roman Empire. 

McDonalds, anyone?

Mik’s brand-new blog

So, this is it. I’ve decided to write a blog, hopefully updating it everyday. I chose to write this blog focussing on one of the things I hate most: a corporate world. I will give my satirical and crazy viewpoints on why a corporate world should or should not exist. Though it’s given us great things, such as McDonalds and Starbucks, I think it’s the little companies that should prevail. So my promise to you, the reader, a brand-new rant about a corporate company every day, or every two days. I also wanted to write this blog in tandem with my friend, Leigh, and his blog.

Well…hello world, and welcome to my blogging!