I read the other day that in 1986, Wimpy set up a temporary branch at the Plovdiv Trade Fair in Bulgaria. This was the first time Bulgarians were introduced to western fast food. In a half-hearted effort to emulate Perestroika, the Bulgarian authorities wanted to sign a deal for Wimpy to open outlets in Bulgaria, but the trademarking costs were the stumbling block, and so no Wimpy in communist Bulgaria.
One reason why Wimpy didn't get to make a deal with any Eastern Bloc country in the end was that it was operating in Apartheid South Africa at the time.
The things you know! Good on the E Bloc for not letting Wimpy sell its mediocre burgers there due to the chain supporting apartheid! When people dismiss the former Eastern Bloc they forget that it challenged Western hypocrisy via supporting far right govts. Today there is no opposition and thus the genocide in Gaza goes unchecked...
Wimpy still about? Wow!
I read the other day that in 1986, Wimpy set up a temporary branch at the Plovdiv Trade Fair in Bulgaria. This was the first time Bulgarians were introduced to western fast food. In a half-hearted effort to emulate Perestroika, the Bulgarian authorities wanted to sign a deal for Wimpy to open outlets in Bulgaria, but the trademarking costs were the stumbling block, and so no Wimpy in communist Bulgaria.
Brilliant! If Wimpy had broken into the SU it might have saved the chain from being destroyed here by McDs!
One reason why Wimpy didn't get to make a deal with any Eastern Bloc country in the end was that it was operating in Apartheid South Africa at the time.
The things you know! Good on the E Bloc for not letting Wimpy sell its mediocre burgers there due to the chain supporting apartheid! When people dismiss the former Eastern Bloc they forget that it challenged Western hypocrisy via supporting far right govts. Today there is no opposition and thus the genocide in Gaza goes unchecked...
I had a very pleasant virtual trip!
I loved reading this Garth , your travels are fascinating.
Thanks dear K. I'm now in Rome so more travel writing coming up! xx