McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hamburger stand and later turned the company into a franchise, with the Golden Arches logo being introduced in 1953 at a location in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1955, Ray Kroc, a businessman, joined the company as a franchise agent and, in 1961, bought out the McDonald brothers. Previously headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, it moved to nearby Chicago in June 2018. McDonald's is also a real estate company through its ownership of around 70% of restaurant buildings and 45% of the underlying land.
Some of the key events about McDonald's
- 1955The first McDonald's franchise restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois
- 1961Hamburger University was established to train employees in restaurant operations
- 1967The first McDonald's restaurant outside the United States opened in Canada
- 1974The first Ronald McDonald House opened to provide accommodation for families with hospitalized children
- 1975The drive-thru window was introduced, revolutionizing fast-food service
- 1977The company was sued for trademark infringement over the use of the name "Ronald McDonald"
- 1983Chicken McNuggets were added to the menu, becoming an instant success
- 1986A scandal erupted over the use of beef fat in McDonald's french fries despite claims they were vegetarian-friendly
- 1990The first McDonald's in Moscow opened, symbolizing the end of the Cold War
- 1990The company faced criticism for its environmental impact, particularly its use of polystyrene packaging
- 1994The company launched its first global environmental policy
- 1994A lawsuit was filed against McDonald's for serving coffee that was allegedly too hot, resulting in severe burns
- 2001The company was implicated in a scheme to rig McDonald's promotional games, defrauding customers of millions in prize money
- 2002McDonald's published its first Social Responsibility Report
- 2002McDonald's settled a class-action lawsuit for misleading vegetarians about the use of beef flavoring in its french fries
- 2006The company faced backlash for its role in contributing to the global obesity epidemic
- 2012McDonald's was criticized for its low wages and labor practices, leading to widespread employee strikes
- 2014The company was accused of tax avoidance in Europe, sparking investigations by the European Commission
- 2015The company announced a commitment to source 100% cage-free eggs in the U.S. and Canada
- 2018McDonald's faced multiple sexual harassment complaints from employees across the United States
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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