McDonald's Basic information and History

McDonald's Basic information

    McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of fast food restaurants,

serving nearly 47 million customers daily through more than 31,000 restaurants

in 119 countries worldwide. McDonald’s sells various fast food items and soft

drinks including, burgers, chicken, salads, fries, and ice cream. Many

McDonald's restaurants have included a playground for children and advertising

geared toward children, and some have been redesigned in a more 'natural' style,

with a particular emphasis on comfort: introducing lounge areas and fireplaces,

and eliminating hard plastic chairs and tables.

    Each McDonald's restaurant is operated by a franchisee, an affiliate, or the

corporation itself. The corporations' revenues come from the rent, royalties and

fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company-operated restaurants.

McDonald's revenues grew 27% over the three years ending in 2007 to $22.8

billion, and 9% growth in operating income to $3.9 billion.

History analysis

1. The business began in 1940, with a restaurant opened by brothers Dick and

    Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. 

2. Their introduction of the "Speedee Service System" in 1948 established the 

     principles of the modern fast-food restaurant.

3. The original mascot of McDonald's was a man with a chef's hat on top of a

    hamburger shaped head whose name was "Speedee."Speedee was eventually

    replaced with Ronald McDonald in 1963.

4. The present corporation dates its founding to the opening of a franchised restaurant 

    by Ray Kroc, in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955 , the ninth McDonald's

     restaurant overall. Kroc later purchased the McDonald brothers' equity in the

    company and led its worldwide expansion and the company became listed on the

    public stock markets in 1965.

5. With the expansion of McDonald's into many international markets, the

    company has become a symbol of globalization and the spread of the

    American way of life. Its prominence has also made it a frequent topic of

    public debates about obesity, corporate ethics and consumer responsibility.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's