Buying food is one of the most costly expenses for college students. After moving on from dining halls, students are forced to find food for themselves. For those who can’t cook or are just too lazy to do so, eating out everyday can add up quickly. Instead of always spending money on your food, wouldn’t it be awesome to make money from your favorite restaurants by investing in them? Cha-ching!
I’ve rounded up some of the most popular food investment options below:
Shake Shack (SHAK):
This East coast burger chain went public in late January and has been a mega-hit. Originating in New York, they are known for their ShackBurgers topped with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and ShackSauce, crinkle cut fries and extremely thick frozen custards. If you live in New York, you’ve probably eaten at Shake Shack, whether it’s in the Citi Field location (home of New York Mets) or in their original location in Madison Square Park. Currently trading at about $46 a share, this is the investment for all you burger lovers.
Kraft Foods Group (KRFT):
Photo by Josie Schwartz
A fan of mac and cheese? Well then, investing in Kraft (home to the ever-popular mac and cheese, Cool Whip, Kool-Aid and Planters peanuts) is probably a good choice. The company of your go-to microwavable college dinner trades at about $60.50 per share.
Yum! Brands (YUM):
My personal favorite on the list, you can invest in the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut. With over 41,000 restaurants worldwide and revenue of more than $13 billion in 2014, Yum! continues to grow and evolve daily. The stock trades at $77.50, or the price of 52 Doritos Locos Tacos.
Darden Restaurants (DRI):
Photo by Daniel Schuleman
Ever eaten at Olive Garden? LongHorn Steakhouse? The Capital Grille? If so, you supported Darden Restaurant Group, one of the premier families of restaurant brands that features some of the most recognizable names in full-service dining. Trading at $65 a share, endless breadsticks will hopefully come with a side of profits for those who invest.
Hershey’s (HSY):
You can invest in one of the most popular chocolate brands in the world, Hershey’s. Known for their delectable sweets, Hershey’s is a steadfast within the candy community. Its one of the more expensive investments in the article, trading at just under $100 a share. If you have faith in this company, this might be the choice for you.
Note: This is not sound investment advice, just a way to earn a little money by spending a little money at your favorite restaurants. Happy eating and happy investing!
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