MCDONALD’S is a popular fast-food restaurant with locations around the world.
While there might be a McDonald’s located off almost every major highway in the United States, it first started off with one location over 65 years ago.
How long has McDonald’s been around?
McDonald’s was first started in San Bernardino, California, by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald.
At the time, the idea of fast-food restaurants was still new, so their quick service 15-cent hamburgers, which were a part of their Speedee Service System, were a huge risk.
However, the idea paid off and the golden arch business quickly boomed, allowing them to begin franchising.
In 1954, the McDonald brothers met Ray Kroc, who became their first franchise agent.
The following year, Kroc then opened the first McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Illinois, and later bought the company in 1961 for $2.7million.
While the McDonald brothers might have founded the first location in 1940, McDonald’s was not established until 1955.
Kroc, who died in January 1984, is credited with McDonald’s global expansion and helped turn the company into the most successful fast food restaurant in the world.
How many McDonald’s locations are there now?
After Kroc opened up his first location, his goal was to open 1,000 restaurants in the United States, however, he was not prepared for how popular the concept would actually be.
Now, there are over 36,000 restaurants in over 100 nations, according to McDonald’s website.
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Who owns McDonald’s?
Shortly after Kroc bought McDonald’s from the McDonald brothers, he founded McDonald’s System, Inc, known today as the McDonald’s Corporation.
Now, the company is led by Chris Kempczinski, who first joined the company as Executive Vice President of Strategy, Business Development, and Innovation in 2015.
Kempczinski, who now serves as the president and CEO of the McDonald’s Corporation, previously worked with several high-profile companies, including Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Kraft Foods, according to his biography.
Along with serving as president and CEO, Kempczinski also served on the McDonald’s Board of Directors and is a trustee of Ronald McDonald House Charities.
