I was listening to NPR the other day and a number that was quoted blew my mind. Yum brands, the spin-off from Pepsico that includes Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, is aiming to open a new outlet every 18 hours in China. China has become their biggest market outside the US and is more profitable. The story noted that they got to China before McDonald’s and have done a very good job of localizing their menu.
What does this mean for sustainability and business in the US, China and the planet. For me, it points to further tightening of food supplies and the commodities that create a supply chain for pizza, tacos and fried chicken. Yum will demand cheap CAFO produced raw food inputs. This continues the radical changes in China as they move away from being an agrarian society. A small shift in demand in China creates a ripple that is felt world-wide because of the shear numbers.
For those of us in the US that are not tied to a multinational company, it points out the need for local businesses and organizations to be vital drivers in recreating a healthy economy. The multi-nationals have tapped out the US. They are moving on to cultivate new opportunities. That is what their shareholders demand.
It is up to entrepreneurs here to grab the mantle of sustainable growth and help communities understand why it benefits them to “shop local”. The local stakeholders that can see beyond return per share can help drive rebirth all over our country.