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McDonald's

American fast food chain founded in 1940.
McDonald's

McDonald's, founded in 1940, is a global fast food chain known for its hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and french fries. With over 40,000 outlets in 100 countries, it is the world's largest fast food restaurant chain. Ray Kroc joined in 1955 and later bought out the McDonald brothers. The corporation also operates as a real estate company, owning a significant portion of restaurant buildings and land. McDonald's revenue comes from franchise fees, royalties, and sales. It is the world's second-largest private employer with 1.7 million employees.

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Timeline

1940-05-15
Opening of the first McDonald's restaurant
The McDonald's brothers opened their first McDonald's restaurant on May 15, 1940 in San Bernardino, California. Initially named 'McDonald's Famous Barbecue', the restaurant focused on barbecue items before shifting its menu to primarily hamburgers.
1948
Founding of McDonald's by Maurice and Richard McDonald
In 1948, Maurice and Richard McDonald founded the first McDonald's restaurant by converting their drive-through barbecue restaurant into a burger and milkshake joint in San Bernardino, California. This marked the beginning of the iconic fast-food chain's journey.
1952-04
Designing of New McDonald's Building
In April 1952, the McDonald brothers decided to construct a new building with the goals of improving efficiency and creating a more visually appealing appearance. They collaborated with architect Stanley Clark Meston to design the building, incorporating unique features like the iconic 'Golden Arches' and Speedee character.
1954-01-01
The Purchase of McDonald's
In 1954, McDonald's was purchased by Ray Kroc from the McDonald brothers, Richard and Maurice, leading to the expansion and growth of the franchise.
1955-04-15
Opening of Ray Kroc's First McDonald's Restaurant
Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955, marking the beginning of the McDonald's empire.
1956
Sonneborn model introduced
In 1956, Ray Kroc collaborated with Harry J. Sonneborn to establish the Sonneborn model, where McDonald's would own the real estate for future franchises. This innovative approach significantly contributed to the company's financial success.
1957
Q.S.C. & V. motto adopted by McDonald's
In 1957, McDonald's adopted the motto of Quality, Service, Cleanliness, and Value (Q.S.C. & V.) as a core principle of the company.
1961
Ray Kroc buys out the McDonald brothers
In 1961, Ray Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers for $2.7 million, taking full control of the McDonald's company. This acquisition solidified Kroc's position as the driving force behind the global success of McDonald's.
1963-01-01
Launch of McDonald's Golden Double Arches and Ronald McDonald
McDonald's introduced its iconic golden double arches logo and Ronald McDonald, the famous clown mascot.
1964
McDonald's Net Income Exceeds $1 Million
In 1964, McDonald's reported a net income that surpassed $1 million, indicating a significant financial milestone for the company.
1966
McDonald's Corporation Goes Public
In 1966, McDonald's Corporation went public, marking a significant step in the company's financial history by offering shares to the public.
1967-06
McDonald's expands into Canada
In June 1967, McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Canada, located in Richmond, British Columbia. This marked the beginning of McDonald's expansion into international markets.
1970
McDonald's Use of Deforested Land in Costa Rica
In 1970, Ray Cesca, the Director of Global Purchasing at McDonald's, acknowledged that the company sourced beef from cattle raised on ex-rainforest land in Costa Rica, which had been deforested in the 1950s and 1960s.
1971-07
First McDonald's in Asia opens in Tokyo, Japan
In July 1971, the first McDonald's in Asia opened at Ginza in Tokyo, Japan, marking the entry of the fast-food chain into the Asian market.
1972
McDonald's system generates $1 billion in sales
In 1972, the McDonald's system achieved a significant milestone by generating $1 billion in sales through its 2,200 restaurants worldwide.
1973
Opening of McDonald's with Mansard design in Fresno, California
In 1973, McDonald's in Fresno, California transitioned from the Red and White design to a remodel featuring the Mansard design.
1974-11-13
First McDonald's in the United Kingdom opens in Woolwich
On November 13, 1974, the first McDonald's in the United Kingdom opened in Woolwich, south-east London, becoming the 3000th McDonald's restaurant.
1984-01-14
Death of Ray Kroc
On January 14, 1984, Ray Kroc, the Founder and Senior Chairman of the Board of McDonald's Corporation, passed away.
1984-07-18
McDonald's shooting incident in San Ysidro
On July 18, 1984, a tragic shooting incident occurred inside a McDonald's in San Ysidro, near the US Mexican border, where 21 customers were killed and 19 others were wounded by the gunman.
1986
Michael Quinlan appointed Chairman and CEO of McDonald's
In 1986, Michael Quinlan was appointed as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of McDonald's, taking on a key leadership role within the company.
1987-08-11
Plane crash into McDonald's in Munich
On August 11, 1987, a tragic plane crash occurred when a Piper Cheyenne crashed into a McDonald's restaurant in Munich, West Germany, killing nine people and injuring 30 others.
1987-11-23
First McDonald's in Scotland opens in Dundee
On November 23, 1987, the first McDonald's store in Scotland opened in Dundee, followed by Kirkcaldy, marking the expansion of the fast-food chain in the region.
1988-04-29
First McDonald's in Hungary opens in Budapest
On April 29, 1988, McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Hungary, in Budapest, becoming the first McDonald's in a Warsaw Pact country behind the Iron Curtain.
1990-01-31
McDonald's Opens First Restaurant in Moscow
On January 31, 1990, McDonald's opened their first restaurant in Moscow, serving 30,000 customers on the opening day. This event marked a significant cultural milestone for McDonald's.
1990-10-01
McDonald's UK 20th Anniversary Celebration
McDonald's UK executives celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first store opening in the UK at the Woolwich store with a jazz band and clown.
1991
McDonald's food poisoning outbreak in Preston
In 1991, McDonald's faced a serious food poisoning outbreak in Preston, UK, where numerous customers were hospitalized due to consuming undercooked burgers contaminated with E.Coli 0157H bacteria.
1992-04-28
Taiwan McDonald's Bombings
The Taiwan McDonald's bombings occurred on April 28 and 29, 1992, when bombs were planted in or near various McDonald's restaurants in Taiwan, causing casualties and temporary closure of all locations.
1992-05-07
Sydney River McDonald's Murders
The Sydney River McDonald's murders took place on May 7, 1992, in Sydney River, Nova Scotia, Canada, during a botched robbery resulting in casualties and injuries.
1994-06-28
McLibel Trial Starts
The McLibel Trial, a famous legal case between McDonald's and activists, began on June 28, 1994.
1998
McDonald's expansion in the late 1990s
Between 1993 and 2000, McDonald's experienced rapid expansion, doubling the number of outlets worldwide to 26,800. This growth phase aimed to demonstrate to Wall Street that McDonald's was still a thriving company.
1999
Jack Greenberg becomes chairman and CEO of McDonald's
In 1999, Jack Greenberg took on the role of chairman and CEO of McDonald's. Facing a slowdown in sales, he implemented a strategy of acquiring various other brands like Boston Market, Donatos, Chipotle, and Pret A Manger to drive growth.
2003
Launch of McDonald’s 'i’m lovin’ it' Global Ad Campaign
McDonald’s launched its first global ad campaign, “i’m lovin’ it,” in Munich, Germany on September 2, 2003.
2004-04-19
Passing of Jim Cantalupo and Charlie Bell
In April 2004, McDonald's Chairman and CEO Jim Cantalupo passed away suddenly from a heart attack at the age of 60. This tragic event was followed by the election of Andrew J. McKenna Sr. as Nonexecutive Chairman and the appointment of Charlie Bell as president and CEO, who later succumbed to colorectal cancer in January 2005.
2005
Murder at McDonald's outlet in West Sussex
In 2005, a fired employee with Asperger's Syndrome murdered his former manager at a McDonald's outlet in West Sussex, England. The tragic incident resulted in the conviction and life imprisonment of the perpetrator.
2012-01
McDonald's Revenue Reaches All-Time High
In January 2012, McDonald's announced that its revenue for 2011 had reached a record high of $27 billion. The company also revealed plans to update 2,400 restaurants and open 1,300 new ones globally.
2015-03-01
McDonald's CEO Change
On March 1, 2015, McDonald's announced that Chief Executive Don Thompson would step down and be replaced by Chief Brand Officer Steve Easterbrook. This change was made in an effort to revitalize the iconic chain amidst declining sales and stock prices.
2016-07-22
2016 Munich Shooting at McDonald's
On July 22, 2016, a tragic event occurred at a McDonald's restaurant in Munich, Germany, where an 18-year-old man opened fire, resulting in the death of nine people and injuring 16 others before taking his own life.
2019-09-10
McDonald's acquires Apprente
On September 10, 2019, McDonald's acquired Apprente, an American startup specializing in AI-driven customer service. This acquisition aimed to enhance McDonald's technological capabilities.
2021
McDonald’s Revenue Breakdown in 2021
In 2021, McDonald’s generated almost ten billion dollars from company-operated restaurants and $13 billion from franchised restaurants.
2022-03-08
McDonald's Suspends Operations in Russia
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, McDonald's halted operations at all 850 locations in Russia on March 8, 2022. Following pressure and in line with other Western companies, the brand was relaunched as 'Vkusno & tochka' by a local franchisee.
2023-12-01
McDonald's Celebrity Meals Launch
McDonald's introduces celebrity meals, allowing customers to eat like their favorite pop culture icons. This marketing strategy aims to attract customers by offering a unique dining experience.
End of the Timeline
McDonald's

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