Tavistock, Devon (the town where McDonald’s had to close!)
For many years, it seemed that there was hardly a town in England, without a branch of the American fast food chain Mcdonald’s (the first one only opened in England, a few decades ago).
But today (despite the TV ads), sales are rapidly falling (and costs are rising, as franchises can’t sell cheap cheeseburgers and make a profit at the same time). And as people increasingly question the ethics of rainforest beef and ‘happy cows’ to make burgers and shakes, people are making their own food.
And finally many councils are growing backbones, and refusing planning permission to new outlets, due to concern mostly over litter and fast food being sold right next to schools.
The Devon town of Tavistock is known as a bit of a ‘foodie place’, as it is full of farmers’ markets and farm shops. People here buy good ingredients, and then make their own food at home!
A few years back, it featured in the news, as it became the first town in England, where the local branch of McDonald’s had so few customers, it had to close down, and move its staff to nearby Plymouth.
One local said ‘We feed our children properly here, so they had no customers’.
Where is Tavistock?
Tavistock is located in West Devon, a market town that used to be known for tin mining. It’s often called ‘the western gateway to Dartmoor’, one of England’s smallest National Parks.
Named after the River Tavy, it once had two railway stations, but both have now closed. Local campaigners are dismayed that their request for a new line to Plymouth to reduce road traffic, has been refused government funding.
Countries With No McDonald’s
There are quite a few countries on earth that don’t have any McDonald’s chains. Not just North Korea, but also Jamaica and Bermuda (people don’t really eat burgers in either country).
And Iceland (due to being an island out in the middle of nowhere, people tend to eat local food, as imports would be too expensive).
Why is Vatican City Renting Land to McDonald’s?
Unbelievably, one place that rents land for a McDonald’s (for around 30,000 Euros a month) is Vatican City. What would St Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of ecology and animals) say?
There were huge protests when the deal was done a few years ago, but Vatican City went ahead anyway. Leading to it having to give some food away free to local homeless people.
So we have the world’s richest religious organisation that takes money from a company that is torturing animals and tearing down rainforests, and giving out junk food to local people on the streets.
And people wonder why church donations are falling.
