In the last few months multiple social media influencers and celebrities have decided to start their own food and snack products. Multiple Instagram, Youtube and Tiktokers have tried to expand their horizons by investing into the food market with a variety of products including snacks, drinks, and even meals.
With the arrivals of: PRIME, Lunchly, and BeHappy snacks, influencers have taken over the food world. Facing mixed reviews, depending on the product, many have wondered as to whether or not social media and celebrity personalities should dip their feet into the food world. But just because they can, should they?
What do you get when a “boxer/rapper”, a problematic wrestler and an overly funded youtuber walk into a bar? A moldy Lunchable dupe. Yep, the KSI, Logan Paul and Mr.Beast creation of Lunchly is somehow worse than a Lunchable. Now I’m not saying a Lunchable is bad, but it is definitely not the healthiest and is not hard to mess up. I mean you do not have to assemble anything; you just have to provide the customer with somewhat fresh ingredients, simple right? Wrong. Somehow “Lunchly” has provided consumers with moldy cheese and a sports drink that is not even legal in some countries (PRIME). If you are going to do something, do it right. Do not try to poison Gen Z when doing it.
Now, several internet personalities have also opened up restaurants and that needs to stop. The problem is not the food or business itself, it is the overcharging for a low class and mid meal. It is the hype around these establishments that lead to overcrowding, a stressed-out experience and an ok piece of pizza or meat to end the whole night. To be a restaurant owner and have a TikTok to show off and promote your business is one thing, to be a TikToker and open up a “meh” restaurant because you can be another. Again, the issue isn’t the person or the product, it is the values and morals behind it. It is the belief that you put money into something and expect to succeed because you have a following, without putting in much work, like Doughbricks. It’s similar to how every celebrity and their mother owns a tequila brand.
These individuals clearly have the means and the money to complete the simple task of producing a baseline product, so why is it going wrong? I, for one, believe that it’s laziness. Influencers know that if they put their brand on a product (no matter the quality) people are going to buy them, and it works. So respect to them for exploiting that side of people because in reality it is a smart business move. But also, please just stop trying to feed the world with moldy cheese.
