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Document 1
Document 1
Document 1
Abstract:
This study explores the loyalty of young people towards multinational fast food chains, with a
focus on the case of international McDonald's in Morocco. The objective is to understand the
factors that influence the loyalty of young people towards McDonald's and to identify the
strategies that McDonald's uses to maintain their loyalty. The study employs a mixed-method
approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Qualitative
data is gathered through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with young people,
while quantitative data is obtained through a survey. The results show that brand image, taste,
convenience, and social influence are the main factors that influence the loyalty of young
people towards McDonald's in Morocco. The study also finds that McDonald's uses various
marketing and advertising strategies, such as offering promotions and sponsoring events, to
maintain the loyalty of its customers. The findings have important implications for marketers
and managers of multinational fast food chains who are interested in expanding their market in
Morocco and other developing countries.
1-Introduction
At the beginning of the nineties, Morocco had known a policy of openness to world
competition. The objectives of this openness were to attract foreign investment that created
jobs and to improve the competitiveness of local businesses. At that time, Morocco
experienced the entry of several global groups operating in different fields of activity, including
those operating in the field of fast food (Mc Donald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Quick...). These global
giants have succeeded over the years in introducing a new consumer culture foreign to that of
Moroccans (often focused on traditional cuisine).
The Moroccan consumer was attracted by the products and services offered by fast food
companies. These companies have become a scourge over the past ten years. However, for a
few years these multinationals began to have very big problems and marketing diffculties.
Indeed, these companies are mostly franchises of American origin, which negatively influenced
their image following the poor diplomatic reputation of their country of origin, something from
which they could not break away (War in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine). Customers therefore
began to boycott the restaurants of these companies which were accused of contributing in
some way to the financing of these wars. Faced with this situation, everyone believed that it
would be the end of their existence on the Moroccan market, but despite everything, we found
the opposite. We have therefore witnessed the expansion of their commercial networks and
the increase in the number of customers who visit their points of sale regularly. This would only
be thanks to a well-developed marketing strategy and the communication potential employed
in order to get out of the crisis situation in which they found themselves.
In our research, we investigate the influence of loyalty antecedents such as perceived service
quality, trust, satisfaction and commitment on the loyalty behavior of Moroccan customers
from a purely relational perspective towards fast food companies.
In our research, we will try to answer the following questions:
- Among the antecedents of loyalty, which ones matter most to the Moroccan customer and
encourage him to become loyal to a Fast-Food company?
- In what order does each variable act to lead the customer to develop loyalty behavior?
In order to answer these questions, our approach is as follows: First, we will present a review of
the literature concerning the construct of loyalty and its antecedents. Then, we will present our
conceptual model and the hypotheses that follow from it. The methodology will then be
presented in detail, followed by the results. Finally, research directions and a conclusion will be
proposed.
1.1 Background
Fast food has become a popular and pervasive part of the global food industry, and multinational
fast food chains such as McDonald's have been at the forefront of this trend. These chains have
expanded rapidly across the world, including in developing countries such as Morocco, where
they have become a significant presence in the food industry.
Young people are a key demographic for fast food chains, as they are often early adopters of new
trends and have significant purchasing power. In Morocco, young people represent a growing
market for multinational fast food chains, as the country's population is predominantly young,
with over 60% of the population under the age of 30.
Loyalty is a crucial factor for the success of fast food chains, as it can lead to repeat business and
positive word-of-mouth advertising. However, loyalty is not always easy to maintain, especially
in a highly competitive market. Multinational fast food chains such as McDonald's must
therefore employ effective strategies to attract and retain their customers, particularly young
people, who may be more likely to experiment with different brands and food options.
This background sets the stage for exploring the loyalty of young people towards multinational
fast food chains, with a focus on the case of McDonald's in Morocco. Understanding the factors
that influence loyalty and the strategies used by fast food chains to maintain it can provide
insights into the broader dynamics of the global food industry and the role of multinational
corporations in shaping food culture and consumption patterns.
H1: The perceived quality of the service is positively related to customer satisfaction.
H2: Perceived service quality is positively related to customer engagement.
H3: The quality perceived by the service is positively linked to the customer's confidence.
For our research, we will adopt the definition of WESTBROOK and REILLY who define
satisfaction as an emotional reaction, it is the pleasant state of mind that results from the
realization that a product, a service, a point of sale or an action that leads to the realization of
personal values. For our research, we assume that satisfaction is positively related to customer
loyalty hence hypothesis H4.
H4: Satisfaction is positively related to customer loyalty.
However, satisfaction from the past experience with the brand influences the consumer's
confidence in the brand (SERIEX and DUBOIS, 1998). Indeed, if the customer is satisfied by a
consumption experience, this satisfaction reinforces the global satisfaction and indirectly the
customers' trust in the brand. This allows us to adopt the following hypothesis:
H5: Satisfaction is positively related to customer confidence.
2.3.3 Trust:
Satisfaction is not the only psychological variable that influences customer loyalty. The
customer's trust in the service provider will also have an influence on the customer's loyalty.
Trust is a key concept in relationship marketing. It has been defined by MORGAN and HUNT
(1994) as the set of activities whose objective is to establish, develop and maintain effective
relational exchanges. While for MOORMAN et al, (1993) trust is the willingness to rely on the
provider in whom one believes. Other authors define trust as the willingness of one party to be in
a vulnerable position with respect to the actions of another party, a willingness based on the hope
that the other will take a particular action that is important to him or her and that the other will
not seek to take advantage of his or her position of superiority" (MEYER, DAVIS,
SCHOORMAN, 1995).
For our research, we will adopt the definition of GURVIEZ and KORCHIA, (2002) who
consider trust as a psychological variable that reflects a set of accumulated presumptions
regarding the competence, integrity and benevolence of the exchange partner. According to
GURVIEZ and KORCHIA, (2002) trust has three dimensions: honesty, benevolence and
competence.
Honesty means that the service provider is sincere, reliable and keeps its promises and word.
Competence is the belief on the part of the customer that the service provider really does have
the expertise to meet the customer's needs in his or her field of activity.
For our model, we will adopt the following assumptions:
H6: Trust is positively related to customer loyalty
H7: Trust leads to customer engagement
For hypothesis H7, researchers such as SHEWWELL et al, (1994) and GEYSKENS and
STEENKAMP, (1995) have shown that trust leads to commitment, which in turn leads to the
intention of repeated purchase behavior. This proves that there is a certain positive relationship
between trust and commitment that remains to be tested in our context.
Conclusion
In conclusion, McDonald's is a significant player in the fast-food industry in Morocco. The
company has been able to capitalize on the country's changing consumer habits and the growth
of the middle class to expand its presence and attract a wide range of customers. However, the
company also faces competition from other fast-food chains that offer similar menu items and
pricing.
From an economic standpoint, McDonald's presence in Morocco has had both positive and
negative effects. On the positive side, the company has created job opportunities for thousands
of Moroccans and has contributed to the growth of the country's service sector. McDonald's
has also brought in foreign investment and has helped to modernize the fast-food industry in
Morocco.
However, there are also concerns about the impact of fast food on public health and the
environment. Some studies have linked the consumption of fast food to increased rates of
obesity and other health problems, and there are concerns about the amount of waste
generated by fast-food packaging and food production.
Overall, McDonald's presence in Morocco reflects the complex interplay between economic
development, consumer demand, and public health concerns. While the company has
contributed to the growth of the service sector and created job opportunities, there is a need
for ongoing monitoring and regulation to ensure that the industry operates in a sustainable and
responsible manner.
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