'OZ' - The 'Other' Side of the Rainbow: The 411

Sunday, June 11, 2023

The 411 - McDonald's

Annoying! Am I right?

McDonald's is a multinational fast food restaurant chain that was founded in 1940 by brothers Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. The restaurant was initially called "McDonald's Bar-B-Q," but it was later renamed "McDonald's Famous Bar-B-Q" and eventually just "McDonald's."

The McDonald brothers began their restaurant career by operating a drive-in restaurant called "The Airdrome" in Monrovia, California in the 1930s. In 1940, they opened their first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, which featured a streamlined menu of just nine items, including hamburgers, cheeseburgers, soft drinks, coffee, potato chips, and pie.

In 1954, Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman from Illinois, visited the original McDonald's restaurant and was impressed with the McDonald brothers' innovative assembly-line approach to food preparation and their emphasis on speed and efficiency. Kroc convinced the brothers to let him franchise the McDonald's concept, and he opened his first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955.

Under Kroc's leadership, McDonald's quickly became a nationwide phenomenon. By 1958, there were 34 McDonald's restaurants in the United States, and Kroc began expanding the chain internationally in 1967, starting with Canada and Puerto Rico.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, McDonald's continued to grow and diversify its menu. It introduced the Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich in 1972 and the Chicken McNugget in 1983. The company also expanded into other areas of the food industry, acquiring the fast food chains Chipotle Mexican Grill and Boston Market, as well as the coffee chain Boston Beanery.

In the 1990s, McDonald's faced increasing competition from other fast food chains and began to struggle with declining sales. In response, the company revamped its menu, introducing healthier options such as salads and fruit smoothies. It also launched a highly successful advertising campaign featuring the slogan "I'm Lovin' It."

Today, McDonald's is one of the world's largest fast food chains, with over 38,000 locations in over 100 countries. The menu has expanded significantly since its early days, with offerings such as breakfast sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, salads, and various desserts. The iconic golden arches logo is recognized around the world, and McDonald's is considered a symbol of American culture and globalization.