McDonald's

In 1937, Patrick McDonald established 'The Airdrome', a food and drinks stand near the Monrovia Airport in California, marking the early beginnings of the McDonald's legacy.

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.

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.

In 1949, McDonald's introduced French Fries to replace potato chips and debuted Triple Thick Milkshakes on their menu.

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.

On August 18, 1953, Roger Williams and Bud Landon, franchisees of McDonald's, opened a stand in Downey, California. This location, featuring the iconic golden arches design, is recognized as the oldest surviving McDonald's restaurant.

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.

Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955, marking the beginning of the McDonald's empire.

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.

In 1957, McDonald's adopted the motto of Quality, Service, Cleanliness, and Value (Q.S.C. & V.) as a core principle of the company.

By 1958, McDonald's had sold its 100 millionth hamburger, marking a significant milestone for the company.

McDonald’s restaurant in DeKalb, Illinois opened in May 1960.

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.

In 1962, the iconic McDonald's logo was introduced, becoming a symbol recognized worldwide.

McDonald's introduced its iconic golden double arches logo and Ronald McDonald, the famous clown mascot.

In 1964, McDonald's reported a net income that surpassed $1 million, indicating a significant financial milestone for the company.

The Filet-o-Fish sandwich was introduced by McDonald's in 1965, adding a new menu item that would become popular among customers.

In 1966, McDonald's Corporation went public, marking a significant step in the company's financial history by offering shares to the public.

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.

In 1969, McDonald’s introduced the new Mansard Roof Design in Matteson, Illinois, which led to many franchisees remodeling their existing Red and White buildings to reflect the new design.

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.

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.

In December 1971, the first McDonald's in the Southern Hemisphere opened in the Sydney suburb of Yagoona, Australia, where it became known as 'Macca's' locally.

In 1972, the McDonald's system achieved a significant milestone by generating $1 billion in sales through its 2,200 restaurants worldwide.

In 1973, McDonald's in Fresno, California transitioned from the Red and White design to a remodel featuring the Mansard design.

On November 13, 1974, the first McDonald's in the United Kingdom opened in Woolwich, south-east London, becoming the 3000th McDonald's restaurant.

In 1975, a McDonald's in Arizona opened the chain's first drive-through window, a feature that became widespread and contributed to McDonald's growth, with the number of outlets surpassing 1,000 in less than 10 years.

In June 1976, the first McDonald's restaurant opened in New Zealand at Porirua, near Wellington, exceeding the corporation's expectations.

The book by Ray Kroc provides insights into the founding and development of McDonald's, offering a primary source on the company's history.

In 1978, McDonald's reached a milestone with the opening of its 5,000th restaurant in Kanagawa, Japan, where it achieved significant financial success by generating $1 million in its first year of operation.

After a dispute with a new franchisee led to the closure of all stores, McDonald's reopened in Puerto Rico in 1980 with non-union labor.

On October 29, 1983, the first McDonald's restaurant in Mexico opened in Pedegral, Mexico City.

On January 14, 1984, Ray Kroc, the Founder and Senior Chairman of the Board of McDonald's Corporation, passed away.

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.

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.

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.

On October 16, 1987, the first World Day of Action Against McDonald's was held, coinciding with the UN 'World Food Day'.

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.

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.

The first Ronald McDonald House was established at Guy's Hospital in London, providing accommodation for families of children receiving treatment at the hospital.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Extra Value Meal, a burger, fries and drink combination deal, was introduced in 1993, originally as part of a Jurassic Park tie-in.

McDonald's opens a new location in Munich, Germany. The event coincides with the Phoenix Suns defeating Buckler Bologna 112-90 to win a tournament.

The McLibel Trial, a famous legal case between McDonald's and activists, began on June 28, 1994.

On 15th April, international protests took place to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the opening of the world's first McDonald's store.

McDonald's opened its first McCafe in Australia, marking the company's attempt to venture into the coffee restaurant business.

On February 16th, 1996 at 10am, the McSpotlight website was launched.

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.

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.

In 2000, a McDonald's in Dearborn, Michigan, was the first in Michigan and the only one east of the Mississippi River to offer halal food for Muslim customers.

In 2001, Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation criticized McDonald's business practices, focusing on its political influence and targeting advertisements to children.

McDonald’s published its first ever Social Responsibility Report on April 15, 2002.

McDonald’s launched its first global ad campaign, “i’m lovin’ it,” in Munich, Germany on September 2, 2003.

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.

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.

In 2006, McDonald's launched its 'Forever Young' brand with a major redesign of its restaurants, shifting to a warmer, coffee shop-like ambiance with modern features.

On August 27, 2007, McDonald's sold Boston Market to Sun Capital Partners as part of its strategic divestment from other chains it had acquired. This move allowed McDonald's to focus on its core brand and streamline its operations.

On September 8, 2009, McDonald's Malaysian operations lost a lawsuit to prevent a restaurant named McCurry from operating, after an unsuccessful appeal to Malaysia's highest court.

In 2010, Subway surpassed McDonald's as the largest single-brand restaurant chain globally. This marked a significant milestone in the fast-food industry.

In 2011, McDonald's made a deal with the Marine Stewardship Council to certify the fish used in their Filet-O-Fish sold in Europe. This initiative aimed to promote sustainable sourcing practices.

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.

USA Today reports on McDonald's testing of seasoned fries, indicating potential menu innovations by the company.

McDonald's introduced the 'All Day Breakfast' menu in 2015, allowing customers to enjoy breakfast items at any time of the day.

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.

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.

In December 2016, McDonald's Malaysia announced that only certified halal cakes were permitted inside its restaurants nationwide.

In April 2017, Supermac's accused McDonald's of 'trademark bullying' and successfully requested the European Union Property Office to cancel McDonald's trademarks in the EU, leading to the cancellation of trademarks like 'Big Mac'.

In September 2018, McDonald's USA announced the removal of artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors from seven classic burgers, signaling a shift towards more natural ingredients.

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.

McDonald's introduced its all-day breakfast menu in an attempt to revitalize its brand. However, the move was considered unsuccessful as it divided the current customer base instead of attracting new customers.

In 2021, McDonald’s generated almost ten billion dollars from company-operated restaurants and $13 billion from franchised restaurants.

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.

On April 22, 2022, the Humane Society lodged a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accusing McDonald's of misrepresenting its stance on gestation crates in previous securities filings.

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.

In January 2024, McDonald's CEO acknowledged the public outcry in the Middle East due to the war and associated misinformation affecting the brand's business.