Industry Restaurants
Founded May 15, 1940 in San Bernardino, California;
McDonald's Corporation, April 15, 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois
Founder(s) Richard and Maurice McDonald McDonald's restaurant concept;
Ray Kroc, McDonald's Corporation founder.
Headquarters Oak Brook, Illinois, U.S.
Number of locations 33,000+ worldwide
Area served Worldwide
Key people Andrew J. McKenna (Chairman)
James A. Skinner (Vice Chairman and CEO)
Don Thompson (President and COO)
Fred L. Turner (Honorary Chairman)
Products Fast food (hamburgers • chicken • french fries • soft drinks • coffee • milkshakes • salads • desserts • breakfast)
Employees 400,000 (January 2010)
Website http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948 they reorganized their business as a hamburger stand using production line principles. Businessman Ray Kroc joined the company as a franchise agent in 1955. He subsequently purchased the chain from the McDonald brothers and oversaw its worldwide growth.
A McDonald's restaurant is operated by either a franchisee, an affiliate, or the corporation itself. The corporation's revenues come from the rent, royalties and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company-operated restaurants.
McDonald's primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken, french fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, shakes and desserts. In response to changing consumer tastes, the company has expanded its menu to include salads, wraps, smoothies and fruit.
