in the cellar

ファーストフードチェーンの代名詞と言えば、まずはマクドナルドを挙げる人が多いのではないかと思います。

アメリカではさらに、ケンタッキーフライドチキン、タコ・ベル、が有名です。

マクドナルドはハンバーガー、ケンタッキーはチキン、・・・というのが相場ですが、現実は、消費者サイドの受け止め方は意外にもそうではないようです。


Some very big fast food chains — McDonald's, Taco Bell and KFC — will have a tough time swallowing this.

Their own customers say their signature items are the worst in their categories, according to a exhaustive consumer survey of the chain's own customers by Consumer Reports.

McDonald's makes the worst burgers. KFC offers the worst chicken. Taco Bell sells the worst burritos. This according to 32,405 Consumer Reports subscribers, in a survey whose results are bound to leave some high-powered fast-food executives scratching their heads today.
(Bruce Horowitz. Survey: Customers slam McDonald's, KFC, Taco Bell. USA Today. July 2, 2014.)


何と最近行われたアンケートの結果では、マクドナルドは最も美味しくないハンバーガー、ケンタッキーはチキンの最下位、タコ・ベルは不味いブリトーのトップ、となったということなのです。

面白い表現があります。


• McDonald's ranked last in burgers. Of 21 burger chains national and regional, McDonald's was at the very bottom, with a 5.8 rating. At the top was a regional chain, The Habit Burger Grill, rating 8.1.

McDonald's did not immediately comment.

• KFC ranked last in chicken. Of eight chicken chains, KFC finished in the cellar with a 7.1 rating. At the top was Chick-fil-A, with a 8.0 rating.

In a statement, KFC spokeswoman Karen Sherman said: "KFC is committed to providing our guests with our world-famous chicken and meals, our Southern hospitality and service and a great value. We won't be satisfied until we are No. 1."

• Taco Bell ranked last in burritos. Of eight Mexican chains, Taco Bell was at the bottom with a 6.3 rating. Chipotle finished on top with 7.8.

Taco Bell did not immediately comment.
(ibid.)


"in the cellar"という表現です。

"cellar"は"wine cellar"などというように、貯蔵庫のことで地下に設けられることが多いですが、地下、イコール最下層ということからか、ランキングにおいて最下位にあることを意味する表現です。