Burgers and Bulldozers: New Franchise Roundup

The lost art of cooking is just one casualty of the fast-food industry. Burgers, fries, and fried eggs on a hard roll were a family tradition for many when they were kids.

But as Millennials grow up in a society more reliant on food delivered at the touch of an app, many are forgetting how to cook their own meals. Even culinary masterpieces like deep-fried French toast have become next to impossible for some cooks because the process requires multiple deep fat fryers — which can cost upwards from $5,000 per unit.

It's a far cry from the 25 cent hamburgers of the past.

Fast food in the USA has become synonymous with cheap and easy, and that's not likely to change anytime soon. But as prices rise and kitchens shrink, will students — and society as a whole — be able to keep pace?

Big Changes Ahead For Fast Food… And Preparation?

Food delivery apps like Seamless give customers access to thousands of quick meals at the tap of a button, saving time and money. And while there are still those who love nothing more than cooking fresh meat on a skillet, others have decided it isn't worth the time or effort.

In fact, it's already getting harder to keep up.

"People are just always on the go. They need something that's quick and easy," explains Cdante Geiger, a professional chef who founded Food by Design, an online shop supplying Farmers Union with fresh food. "And fast food is the way to go."

Besides, he knows that he has been in this industry for 22 years. And although he still loves cooking his own food – and won't cook without a grill – many of his peers aren't quite as passionate about it.

"It takes time to source quality local ingredients and make delicious meals for your clients," adds Chris Weber, co-founder of Culinary Metro Chicago. "But the rising costs of labor, energy, and food make it all the more difficult to stay in the kitchen."

…but Will We Be Prepared?

When you're a student with few opportunities for employment in your chosen profession, it's easy to be seduced by a career in fast food. After all, there are many applicants who want jobs earning $100 per hour. And even though their long hours may not make them ideal employees, you can't deny that it's a decent salary for someone just entering the workforce.

The problem is that many of these jobs are now being taken by robots.

Nearly every aspect of fast food making is getting automated. From grill cooks to burger patty makers, robots are replacing human labor in droves. Grills that cook up burgers on demand and fryers that can fry up 20 eggs at a time have already started rolling off the assembly line. And if things keep going the way they're headed, most restaurants in the country will soon be run by machines instead of people.

"The potential for growth for technology and robotics is staggering," Weber explains. "We're already seeing mechanization replacing humans, which will create a major challenge for traditional fast food employers. It's something the industry will have to struggle with in the coming years."

So, What Are Our Options?

Geiger agrees that automation will change our entire food service industry. He adds that we'll likely see entire restaurants run by machines by the end of the decade. And while there may be some who will take on jobs preparing food for these machines, there's no doubt that a vast majority of positions will be lost.

Weber also predicts that fast food jobs will remain difficult to fill in the coming years due to economic conditions and cyber attacks on our infrastructure. And since many of these companies aren't willing to pay more than minimum wage, low wage workers will have a hard time surviving on these salaries alone.

"I predict that we'll see a rise in foodie culture in the coming years," Geiger adds. "As things like robots start taking over our fast food restaurants, people will have to find other options for good meal after school. People will go back to preparing their own foods at home, or they'll find a restaurant that employs chefs who can make quality meals."

And although this would be an ideal situation for those who want to learn how to cook and get involved in the culinary industry, it doesn't mean that things will get easier… or cheaper.

"I'm pretty sure that people will still be doing fast food," Weber says. "But people will want to make quality food for themselves and their clients. And if they can't afford it, it may come from demand on-demand chains that cater to a smaller community. A place like Whole Foods Market may have something to do with that."

Either way, fast food jobs aren't going away. But as the industry shifts towards automation and robot workers, more and more people will need to find new ways of making money. And since DIY food chains are likely to include higher prices, it's important that our students know how to prepare decent food on a budget before they graduate… even if they end up dining out with their friends instead of cooking at home.

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Burgers and Bulldozers: New Franchise Roundup

Burgers and Bulldozers: New Franchise Roundup

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