The use of free samples is one among many subtle marketing strategies used by fast food companies in the United States. Most fast food companies mainly use free samples when introducing new food products into the market. Usually, customers are not aware of how the new food products taste or smell, and the free samples, therefore, give them an opportunity to try them before buying them. Even though this marketing technique seems subtle and unobtrusive, of important to note is that it can create an instant demand for selected products. For instance, a free cookie sample to a child in a fast food store almost evokes an immediate demand and sale of more cookies to the child.
Another subtle marketing strategy used by the fast food industry in the United States is the use of coupons. Good coupon offers in fast food restaurants, and stores may see customers break their regular shopping patterns just to take advantage of the coupon offers. Customers can even travel quite far just to redeem a valuable coupon. Notably, coupons quickly build fast food store traffic that usually results in additional food impulse buying by the customers. Despite this marketing mechanism seeming subtle and unobtrusive to the customers, it sees customers increase their food purchases each time they visit fast food stores and restaurants.
One particular topic I found fascinating is the concept of nutrition transition. It is quite intriguing how shifts in dietary intake and energy expenditure very much coincide with not only economic and demographic changes but also with epidemiologic changes (Fulcher 280). It is fascinating how dietary and nutritional changes from the pre-modern stage, urbanization, mature industrialization to the post-industrial stage are all accounted for with both demographic and epidemiologic changes.
Works cited
Fulcher, James, and John Scott. Sociology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.
Tackling Child Obesity-First Steps: Eighth Report of Session 2006-07 ; Report Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence. London: Stationery Office, 2007. Print.
