How did McDonald's get started?
Brothers Maurice and Richard McDonald started the first McDonald's (MCD) - Get McDonald's Corporation Report restaurant in 1948 by converting their drive-through barbecue restaurant into a burger and milkshake joint. Located in San Bernardino, California, the restaurant was actually the brothers' second venture into the food industry.
Who stole McDonalds from the brothers?
Was McDonalds stolen from the brothers? Ray Kroc tore into Richard and Maurice McDonald when they demanded $2.7 million for their company in 1961. The McDonald brothers were effectively the fast food equivalent of the Winklevoss twins, who claim that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for the social network.
Who owns McDonald's franchise?
McDonald's has been owned by Kroc since April 1955. Kroc's first McDonald's location was opened in Illinois, USA, on April 15 that year. Not long afterwards, Kroc founded McDonald's System, Inc., known today as the McDonald's Corporation. In 1961, Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers - the founders of the franchise - for $2.7million (£2million).
Who made the first McDonalds?
The first McDonald's was founded by two brothers, Maurice (Mac) and Richard (Dick) McDonald in the mid-1940s. The siblings established their business in southern California, though history shows it wouldn't stay there for long.
Who is the true founder of McDonald's?
Richard McDonald (February 1909 – July 14, 1998) and Maurice McDonald (1902 – December 11, 1971), together known as the McDonald Brothers, were American entrepreneurs who founded the fast food company McDonald's.
Did Ray Kroc steal McDonald's?
Did Ray Kroc's deal to buy out the brothers really not include the original McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino? Yes. Kroc wasn't aware that the agreement excluded the original restaurant, but the McDonald brothers insisted it did.
How rich is McDonald's founder?
Kempczinski is paid $5.22 million annually as the CEO of McDonald's according to Wallmine. He has a net worth of $17.9 million. Related Link: Could McDonald's New Rewards Program Send Shares To New Highs?
Does Coca Cola Own McDonalds?
“It was kind of funny but it was true.” McDonald's is so important to Coke that it is the only customer with its own division. Coca-Cola's McDonald's division is run by Javier C. Goizueta, the son of Coke's former chief executive, Roberto C.
Is the founder a true story?
The Founder tells the true story of how one family-owned San Bernardino burger shack became one of the most recognized and profitable fast food chains in the world. And it's not what you think. Director John Lee Hancock produces yet another Hollywood portrayal of an American business exposed for its true colors.
How much was Ray Kroc worth before he died?
Ray Kroc was an American businessman and entrepreneur who had a net worth of $600 million at the time of his death in 1984. That's the same as $1.4 billion today after adjusting for inflation. Ray Kroc passed away on January 14, 1984 at 81 years old from heart failure.
Who owns the most McDonalds franchises?
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. is a company that owns the master franchise of the fast food restaurant chain McDonald's in 20 countries within Latin America and the Caribbean. It is the largest McDonald's franchisee in the world in terms of system-wide sales and number of restaurants.
Is the McDonalds family rich?
The McDonald brothers and Kroc had both become wealthy, but Kroc would become filthy rich when he bought them out in 1961 for $2.7 million. The brothers figured that after taxes they'd each have a million bucks.
Who is the CEO of McDonald's?
On March 1, 2015, after being chief brand officer of McDonald's and its former head in the UK and northern Europe, Steve Easterbrook became CEO, succeeding Don Thompson, who stepped down on January 28, 2015.
Who bought McDonald's in 1955?
In 1955, Ray Kroc, a businessman, joined the company as a franchise agent and proceeded to purchase the chain from the McDonald brothers. McDonald's had its previous headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, but moved its global headquarters to Chicago in June 2018.
What is McDonald's playground called?
McDonald's playgrounds are called McDonald's PlayPlace. Some McDonald's in suburban areas and certain cities feature large indoor or outdoor playgrounds. The first PlayPlace with the familiar crawl-tube design with ball pits and slides was introduced in 1987 in the US, with many more being constructed soon after.
Why is McDonald's suing France?
In January 2014, McDonald's was accused of having used a series of tax maneuvers to avoid taxes in France. French authorities have billed McDonald's France in 2016 for 300 million euros for unpaid taxes on profit.
How many hamburgers did McDonald's sell in 1993?
By 1993, McDonald's had sold more than 100 billion hamburgers. The once widespread restaurant signs that boasted the number of sales, such as this one in Harlem, were left at "99 billion" because there was space for only two digits. This McDonald's closed on September 9, 2019.
What is McDonald's globalization?
McDonald's has become emblematic of globalization, sometimes referred to as the " McDonaldization " of society. The Economist newspaper uses the " Big Mac Index ": the comparison of the cost of a Big Mac in various world currencies can be used to informally judge these currencies' purchasing power parity. Switzerland has the most expensive Big Mac in the world as of July 2015, while the country with the least expensive Big Mac is India (albeit for a Maharaja Mac —the next cheapest Big Mac is Hong Kong ).
Why did McDonald's file a health and safety complaint?
Occupational Safety and Health Administration which allege that low staffing, lack of protective gear, poor training and pressure to work fast has resulted in injuries. The complaints allege that, because of a lack of first aid supplies, workers were told by management to treat burn injuries with condiments such as mayonnaise and mustard. The Fight for $15 labor organization aided the workers in filing the complaints.
When did Kroc open his first McDonald's?
Kroc opens his first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15. The attention getting red and white tiled building with the Golden Arches was designed by architect Stanley Meston in 1953. First day sales are $366.12.
Who designed the Red and White McDonald's?
The McDonald brothers insisted that their architect design an attention catching building that would highlight their Speedee Service System. Architect Stanley Meson design of the “Red and White” did not disappoint. Feeling that the roof line was a bit too flat Dick McDonald added arches to the building. This building design was first used in 1953 until it was replaced by the Mansard Roof design in the late 1960s.
Why did Dick and Mac McDonald move to California?
Visit McDonald's Restaurants. Dick and Mac McDonald moved to California to seek opportunities they felt unavailable in New England. Failing in the movie business, they subsequently proved successful in operating drive-in restaurants. In 1948 they took a risk by streamlining their operations and introducing their Speedee Service System featuring 15 ...
Why did the McDonald brothers move to California?
The McDonald Brothers. Dick and Mac McDonald moved to California to seek opportunities they felt unavailable in New England. Failing in the movie business, they subsequently proved successful in operating drive-in restaurants. In 1948 they took a risk by streamlining their operations and introducing their Speedee Service System featuring 15 cent ...
How many McDonald's are there in the world?
Yet, McDonald’s continued to grow and expand into international markets beginning in 1967 opening in Canada and Puerto Rico. Today, the company has over 36,000 restaurants in over 100 nations. The most recent opening in Kazakhstan in 2016.
Where was the first Ronald McDonald House?
The first Ronald McDonald House opens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1973, Fred Hill, a football player with the Philadelphia Eagles, had the need for such a facility at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, where his child was being treated for leukemia. Hill’s dilemma led to the first Ronald McDonald House.
Where is McDonald's in San Bernardino?
Dick and Mac McDonald open McDonald's Bar-B-Q restaurant on Fourteenth and E streets in San Bernardino, California. It is a typical drive-in featuring a large menu and car hop service.
When did McDonald's open?
The first McDonald's Express locations opened in 1991. These are smaller-scale prototypes, usually constructed in prefabricated buildings or urban storefronts, that do not feature certain menu items such as milkshakes and Quarter Pounders.
Why was McDonald's so successful in the 1960s?
McDonald's success in the 1960s was in large part due to the company's skillful marketing and flexible response to customer demand. In 1962, the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, billed as "the fish that catches people", was introduced in McDonald's restaurants. New Zealand's first McDonald's restaurant, in Porirua.
Where is McDonald's located in Finland?
A McDonald's in Finland, located on Hämeenkatu in central Tampere. The first McDonald's restaurant in Finland was located at the Commerce House near the Keskustori market square but has since been shut down.
When did McDonald's open in New York City?
1972: The first McDonald's in New York City opens on Manhattan's Upper West Side, dubbed "Townhouse" (to reflect that it was not a drive-in) and serves a record 100,000 hamburgers in its first week. 1974: On November 13, the first McDonald's in the United Kingdom opens in Woolwich, southeast London.
Where is McDonald's ice cream?
A McDonald's soft drink/ice cream stand in Sanya, Hainan, China. The first McDonald's in Mainland China opened in Dongmen, Shenzhen in October 1990. The Extra Value Meal, a burger, fries and drink combination deal, was introduced from 1993, originally as part of a Jurassic Park -themed tie-in.
When did the Big Mac come out?
The Big Mac hamburger made its debut in 1968. In the early 1960s, McDonald's really began to take off. The growth in U.S. automobile use that came with suburbanization and the interstate highway system contributed heavily to McDonald's success.
Where is the oldest McDonald's?
See also: History of the hamburger. The oldest operating McDonald's on Lakewood and Florence in Downey, California, was the chain's third restaurant and the second to be built with the Golden Arches.
Who owns McDonald's?
Owner of McDonald’s Richard and Maurice McDonald were American entrepreneurs who brought a revolution in the field of the restaurant business by coming with the idea of fast-food stands that ultimately formed the base for many other food chains. They were Irish immigrants who opened a hot dog stand in 1937 outside a race track in California.
When was McDonald's first hamburger restaurant?
Although the first restaurant opened in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, ...
How many McDonald's outlets are there?
Out of the 36,899 outlets, 5,669 outlets are set up as a company-owned location and the rest are set up at the franchise-owned locations. McDonald’s is famous for its hamburgers, French fries, desserts, and soft drinks.
Who was the first CEO of McDonald's?
That model continues to this day, and is often considered one of the most significant financial decisions the company has ever made. 1959 - Kroc names Sonnenborn the first CEO of the McDonald's company. 1961 - Kroc buys out the McDonald brothers for $2.6 million (approximately $22.3 million in 2019 equivalent).
What is McDonald's history?
Since that time it has found an approach that works. The company's modern history is noteworthy specifically for its relatively few items of note.
What happened to McDonald's in the 1990s?
McDonald's has been the target of a number of high-profile lawsuits during the company's lifetime. Most notably was the infamous "coffee lawsuit" of the early 1990s. In 1994 Stella Liebeck sued the company after spilling a cup of their coffee that gave her third degree burns across her legs and thighs.
What was the original McDonald's?
The original McDonald's focused on its burgers, fries and shakes, selling them for half the price and in half the time of competing restaurants. It did this by changing the way that a hamburger shop operated. Instead of relying on waiters and waitresses, the McDonald brothers installed a self-service counter.
How much did McDonald's pay for Liebeck's treatment?
The company refused to pay for Liebeck's treatment. It instead offered $800 in compensation, ultimately leading to the lawsuit.
How much is McDonald's stock worth in 2019?
The share price moved from $176 at the beginning of the year to a high of $221. Over several months prices have fluctuated within 20 points, but have not dipped below $200 a share since early June.
How many McDonald's are there in the world?
Operating over 30,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, McDonald's is arguably the most successful restaurant in the entire world. And it all started with a hot dog stand.
Who played Richard McDonald in The Founder?
In the 2016 film The Founder, a biopic about Ray Kroc and his business relationship with the McDonald brothers, Richard McDonald is played by Nick Offerman, and John Carroll Lynch portrays Maurice McDonald. The first McDonald's, according to the California Route 66 Association, is owned by Albert Okura and is a museum.
When did McDonald's start franchising?
The McDonald brothers' restaurant was a success, and with the goal of making $1 million before they turned 50, the McDonald brothers began franchising their system in 1953, beginning with a restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona, operated by Neil Fox. In 1954, the McDonald brothers partnered with Ray Kroc.
Where were the McDonald brothers born?
Early life. The McDonald brothers were born in Manchester, New Hampshire, to Patrick J. McDonald and Margarete McDonald, Irish immigrants who came to the United States as children.
Who was the first cook of a McDonald's hamburger?
The franchiser took 1.9 percent of the gross sales, of which the McDonald brothers got 0.5 percent. On November 30, 1984, Richard McDonald, the first cook behind the grill of a McDonald's, was served the ceremonial 50 billionth McDonald's hamburger by Ed Rensi, then-president of McDonald's USA, at the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York City.
How did Maurice McDonald die?
Maurice McDonald died from heart failure at his home in Palm Springs, California, on December 11, 1971, at the age of 69. He was buried at the Desert Memorial Park, in Cathedral City, California.
Who is the founder of McDonald's?
Kroc is credited with the global expansion of McDonald's, turning it into the most successful fast food corporation in the world. Due to the company's growth under Kroc, he has also been referred to as the founder of the McDonald's Corporation.
Why was the McDonald's restaurant renamed the Big M?
In his anger, Kroc later opened a new McDonald's restaurant near the original McDonald's, which had been renamed "The Big M" because the brothers had neglected to retain rights to the name. "The Big M" closed six years later.
How much did Kroc donate to Nixon?
Kroc donated $255,000 to Richard Nixon 's reelection campaign in 1972, and was controversially accused by some, notably Senator Harrison Williams, of making the donation to influence Nixon to veto a minimum wage bill making its way through Congress.
What fast food chains were created in the 1960s?
During the 1960s, a wave of new fast food chains appeared that copied McDonald's model, including Burger King, Burger Chef, Arby's, KFC, and Hardee's. Kroc became frustrated with the McDonald brothers' desire to maintain a small number of restaurants.
What is Kroc's role in the food service industry?
Kroc has been credited with making a number of innovative changes in the food-service franchise model. Chief among them was the sale of only single-store franchises instead of selling larger, territorial franchises which was common in the industry at the time.
When did Kroc retire from McDonald's?
Kroc retired from running McDonald's in 1974. While he was looking for new challenges, he decided to get back into baseball, his lifelong favorite sport, when he learned that the San Diego Padres were for sale. The team had been conditionally sold to Joseph Danzansky, a Washington, D.C. grocery-chain owner, who planned to move the Padres to Washington. However, the sale was tied up in lawsuits when Kroc purchased the team for $12 million, keeping the team in San Diego. In Kroc's first year of ownership in 1974 , the Padres lost 102 games, yet drew over one million in attendance, the standard of box office success in the major leagues during that era. Their previous top attendance was 644,772 in 1972. The San Diego Union said Kroc was "above all, a fan of his team".
Where was Ray Kroc's first McDonald's?
Ray Kroc's first ( McDonald's ninth) restaurant, which opened April 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois, US. After World War II, Kroc found employment as a milkshake mixer salesman for the foodservice equipment manufacturer Prince Castle. When Prince Castle Multi-Mixer sales plummeted because of competition from lower-priced Hamilton Beach products, ...
Who was the first president of McDonald's?
Following the advice of Harry J. Sonneborn, who became McDonald’s Corp.'s first president, Kroc set up a system in which the company purchased and leased land to new franchises. Sonneborn also helped secure a $2.7 million loan that enabled Kroc to purchase the company outright from the McDonald brothers in 1961.
Who was the chairman of McDonald's in 1977?
These innovations contributed to the success of the McDonald’s brand on a global scale. In 1977, Kroc reassigned himself to the role of senior chairman, a position he held for the rest of his life.
When did McDonald's open in Des Plaines?
In 1955, he founded McDonald's System, Inc. (later McDonald’s Corporation), and opened its first new restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. By 1959, McDonald's had opened restaurant No. 100, but Kroc still wasn't reaping significant profits.
How many toys does McDonald's distribute?
Each year, via its Happy Meals, McDonald's distributes 1.5 billion toys. Under Kroc’s ownership, McDonald’s retained some of its original character while incorporating new elements.
When did Kroc buy McDonald's?
Kroc purchased the company outright in 1961, and his strict operational guidelines helped transform McDonald's into the world’s largest restaurant franchise before his death in 1984, at the age of 81.
Who invented the milkshake machine?
Kroc's business dealings connected him with ice cream shop owner Earl Prince, who invented a machine capable of generating five milkshake batches at the same time. By the 1940s, Kroc had left Lily-Tulip to focus on selling these "multi-mixers" to soda fountains around the country.
Who was the Red Cross driver in World War 1?
Kroc participated in World War I as a Red Cross ambulance driver, lying about his age to begin serving at 15. During his training, Kroc met Walt Disney, with whom he would maintain a professional relationship for most of his life.
Overview
Corporate overview
McDonald's restaurants are in 120 countries and territories and serve 68 million customers each day. McDonald's operates 37,855 restaurants worldwide, employing more than 210,000 people as of the end of 2018. There are a total of 2,770 company-owned locations and 35,085 franchised locations, which includes 21,685 locations franchised to conventional franchisees, 7,225 locati…
History
Siblings Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald's at 1398 North E Street at West 14th Street in San Bernardino, California (at 34°07′32″N 117°17′41″W / 34.1255°N 117.2946°W ), on May 15, 1940. The brothers introduced the "Speedee Service System" in 1948, putting into expanded use the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant that their predecessor White Castle had …
Products
McDonald's predominantly sells hamburgers, various types of chicken, chicken sandwiches, French fries, soft drinks, breakfast items, and desserts. In most markets, McDonald's offers salads and vegetarian items, wraps and other localized fare. On a seasonal basis, McDonald's offers the McRib sandwich. Some speculate the seasonality of the McRib adds to its appeal.
Restaurants
There are over 36,000 McDonald's restaurants globally. Over a third of these (14,146 restaurants) are in the United States alone - the second highest number is in Japan with 2,975 restaurants, followed by China with 2,700. These three countries make up a majority of global McDonald's stores.
Most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter service and drive-th…
Treatment of employees
Since the late 1990s, McDonald's has attempted to replace employees with electronic kiosks which would perform actions such as taking orders and accepting money. In 1999, McDonald's first tested "E-Clerks" in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and Wyoming, Michigan, with the devices being able to "save money on live staffers" and attracting larger purchase amounts than average e…
Animal welfare standards
In 2015, McDonald's pledged to stop using eggs from battery cage facilities by 2025. Since McDonald's purchases over 2 billion eggs per year or 4 percent of eggs produced in the United States, the switch is expected to have a major impact on the egg industry and is part of a general trend toward cage-free eggs driven by consumer concern over the harsh living conditions of hens. The aviary systems from which the new eggs will be sourced are troubled by much higher morta…
Marketing and advertising
McDonald's has for decades maintained an extensive advertising campaign. In addition to the usual media (television, radio, and newspaper), the company makes significant use of billboards and signage, and also sponsors sporting events ranging from Little League to the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games. Television has played a central role in the company's advertising strategy. To d…