The Founding of McDonald's
Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California, originally as a barbecue restaurant.
1940
1948
Introduction of the Speedee Service System
The McDonald brothers revamped their restaurant to focus on a simple menu and introduced the Speedee Service System, a precursor to the modern fast-food restaurant.
1954
Ray Kroc Joins McDonald's
Ray Kroc, a Multimixer milkshake machine salesman, joined McDonald's as a franchise agent, aiming to expand the brand nationwide.
1955
First McDonald's Franchise Opens
Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, marking the beginning of McDonald's expansion.
1961
Ray Kroc Buys McDonald's
Ray Kroc bought the McDonald brothers' equity in the company, officially creating McDonald's Corporation.
1963
Introduction of Ronald McDonald
Ronald McDonald, the company's iconic clown mascot, was introduced to help market McDonald's to children.
1965
McDonald's Goes Public
McDonald's Corporation went public with its first offering on the stock market, trading under the ticker symbol MCD.
1967
First International McDonald's Opens
The first international McDonald's restaurant opened in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
1973
Introduction of the Quarter Pounder
McDonald's introduced the Quarter Pounder, a larger hamburger option, to its menu.
1975
First McDonald's Drive-Thru Opens
The first McDonald's drive-thru opened in Sierra Vista, Arizona, catering to military personnel who were not allowed to leave their cars while in uniform.
1984
Passing of Ray Kroc
Ray Kroc, the man who turned McDonald's into a global franchise, passed away, leaving a lasting legacy in the fast-food industry.
1993
Introduction of the McCafe Concept
McDonald's introduced the McCafe concept in Melbourne, Australia, offering a cafe-style experience with specialty coffee and pastries.
2002
Launch of the Dollar Menu
McDonald's introduced the Dollar Menu, offering a selection of items for one dollar each to attract budget-conscious customers.
2015
All-Day Breakfast Launch
McDonald's launched all-day breakfast in the United States, allowing customers to purchase breakfast items at any time of the day.
2020
Introduction of the McPlant
McDonald's introduced the McPlant, a plant-based burger option, in collaboration with Beyond Meat to cater to the growing demand for vegetarian and vegan options.
2024
Expansion of McDonald's Sustainability Initiatives
McDonald's continued its efforts to become more sustainable by expanding its use of renewable energy, reducing waste, and sourcing sustainable ingredients.
