Quick halal menus

 

According to AP, in eight of 362 Quick burger joints in France they’ve gone pork-less. The "offending" Quick outlets (three are in Paris suburbs) are located in predominantly Muslim neighborhoods, in an apparent concession to a $1.3 billion halal (meaning ‘legal’ under Islamic law) food industry. While French Muslims didn’t ask for pork-free fast-food at Quick, they are appreciative of them, if sales are a sign. To many Frenchmen, a halal Quick seems odd and perhaps not quite right in a society where religion should not stand out in ordinary life, under the strictly secular principles of laicite, or separation of church and state. As with the burqa question, support for secular France are found on the socialist left and strongly on the right, as well.

 

In a French election year where the burqa, or full length Muslim veil, is portrayed as a non-French symbol – the inalienable right to order a bacon burger is a new battleground.

 

A pork-less Quick – similiar to a kosher McDonald's or Burger King – means those who take both their kids and the Koran seriously can go to a popular fast food restaurant and not have to order only the fish. Kentucky Fried Chicken already sells halal chicken in France, though does so with no advertising. In 2002, a Paris suburban branch of the supermarket giant Franprix, decided to go halal and not sell pork or alcohol. The socialist mayor also protested and shut down the France.

 

Quick is a fast-food restaurant chain similar to McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King. Since 2007 it has been owned by the French investment firm CDC Capital Investissement.

 

The chain was first established in 1971 in Schoten, Belgium, and as of December 31, 2004 operated over 400 restaurants in France, Belgium, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Dubai, Andorra, Luxembourg, Spain and Russia. 72% of these restaurants were operated on a franchise basis.

 

The first French Quick opened in Aix-en-Provence on July 19, 1980.

 

The first two Russian Quick restaurants opened in Moscow and Tula on March 21, 2008.

 

As of September 2007, the burger line-up included:

 

    * the Cheeseburger

    * the Classic Pepper

    * the Supreme Cheese

    * the Quick 'n Toast

    * the Giant

    * the Long Chicken

    * the Long Bacon

    * the Long Fish

 

The "Giant" (which, despite its name, is similar in size to the other burgers) is the most popular choice, constituting about 50% of Quick's burger orders.[citation needed]

 

Quick stopped salting the fries behind the counter. Instead, there are packets of salt available with the invitation "Meer of minder gezouten, aan u de keuze" (in Dutch) or "Plus ou moins salés: à vous de décider" (in French) appearing on the fry containers which meant "More or less salted: for you to decide."

 

A vegetarian burger was available during a limited time in the 1990s but discontinued due to low demand in the Belgian and French markets. Quick did offer a grilled cheese sandwich as a meatless option.

 

Beginning in March 3rd, 2007, Quick also had restaurants in Algiers, the capital of Algeria.

 

In February 2010, Quick announced that a number of its French franchises would have halal menus to cater to the Muslim population, that starts the current debate.