History of McDonald's in Timeline
McDonald's is an American multinational fast food chain established in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Initially a hamburger stand, it evolved into a franchise. The iconic Golden Arches logo debuted in 1953. Ray Kroc, joined in 1955 as a franchise agent and subsequently purchased the company from the McDonald brothers in 1961. Previously located in Oak Brook, Illinois, its headquarters relocated to Chicago in 2018. McDonald's also functions as a real estate company, owning a significant portion of its restaurant buildings and land.
May 15, 1940: First McDonald's Opens
On May 15, 1940, siblings Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
1940: McDonald's Founded
In 1940, Richard and Maurice McDonald founded McDonald's as a restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
1948: Speedee Service System Introduced
In 1948, the McDonald brothers introduced the "Speedee Service System", revolutionizing fast-food service.
1953: Golden Arches Logo Introduced
In 1953, the Golden Arches logo was introduced at a McDonald's location in Phoenix, Arizona.
April 15, 1955: Ray Kroc Opens First Franchised McDonald's
On April 15, 1955, Ray Kroc opened his first franchised McDonald's restaurant, marking the beginning of the corporation's founding.
1955: Ray Kroc Joins McDonald's
In 1955, Ray Kroc, a businessman, joined McDonald's as a franchise agent.
May 4, 1961: McDonald's Trademark Filed
On May 4, 1961, McDonald's first filed for a U.S. trademark on the name "McDonald's" with the description "Drive-In Restaurant Services."
1961: Ray Kroc Buys Out McDonald Brothers
In 1961, Ray Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers, taking control of the company.
1961: Kroc Purchases McDonald Brothers' Equity
In 1961, Ray Kroc purchased the McDonald brothers' equity in the company for $2.7 million.
1962: Golden Arches Replace Speedee
In 1962, the Golden Arches replaced Speedee as the universal mascot of McDonald's.
1963: Ronald McDonald Introduced
In 1963, the clown mascot Ronald McDonald was introduced to market the McDonald's chain to children.
November 18, 1968: McDonald's Granted Trademark for Golden Arches
On November 18, 1968, McDonald's was granted a U.S. trademark for the present version of the "Golden Arches" logo.
1971: Original San Bernardino Restaurant Torn Down
In 1971, the original McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino was torn down.
1975: Drive-Thru Introduced in Sierra Vista, Arizona
In 1975, McDonald's introduced drive-thru service in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
1975: McDonald's Opens in Hong Kong
In 1975, McDonald's opened in Hong Kong and was the first restaurant to consistently offer clean restrooms, driving customers to demand the same of other restaurants and institutions.
1977: McDonald's Enters NASCAR
In 1977, McDonald's entered the NASCAR Cup Series, sponsoring Richard Childress for one race.
1984: Kroc's First McDonald's Rebuilt
In 1984, the McDonald's restaurant opened by Kroc in 1955 was destroyed and rebuilt.
1986: McDonald's Sponsors Sporadic Races
Between 1977 and 1986, McDonald's would only sponsor a handful of races in a season.
1986: First Drive-Thru in Britain Opens
In 1986, the first McDonald's drive-thru restaurant in Britain opened in Fallowfield, Manchester.
1987: First PlayPlace Introduced
In 1987, the first McDonald's PlayPlace with the familiar crawl-tube design was introduced in the US.
1990: McLibel Case Begins
In 1990, London Greenpeace activists distributed leaflets criticizing McDonald's, leading to the "McLibel case" after the corporation sued them for libel.
1992: Michael Jordan "McJordan" Meal
In 1992, Michael Jordan became the first celebrity to have a McDonald's value meal named after him. The "McJordan" included a Quarter Pounder with pickles, raw onion slices, bacon, and barbecue sauce, and was available at Chicago franchises.
1993: McDonald's Becomes Full-Time Sponsor
In 1993, McDonald's became the full-time sponsor for the No. 27 Junior Johnson & Associates Ford, driven by Hut Stricklin.
1993: McCafé Concept Created
In 1993, the McCafé concept was created by McDonald's Australia, starting with Melbourne.
1994: Jimmy Spencer Replaces Hut Stricklin
In 1994, Jimmy Spencer replaced Hut Stricklin in the No. 27 car, going on to win twice that season with McDonald's as the sponsor.
1994: Hearth Express Prototype Launched
In 1994, McDonald's attempted Hearth Express, a prototype specializing in homestyle takeout meals, in Darien, Illinois.
1994: McDonald's Begins Banning Smoking
In 1994, McDonald's began banning smoking in its wholly owned restaurants.
1994: Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants Court Case
The 1994 court case Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants examined a McDonald's practice of serving coffee so hot that when spilled, it caused third degree burns requiring weeks of hospitalization and skin grafting surgery.
1995: $1 Million Monopoly Game Piece Sent to St. Jude
In 1995, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital received an anonymous letter postmarked in Dallas, Texas, containing a $1 million winning McDonald's Monopoly game piece.
1996: McDonald's Buys Georgie Pie Chain
In 1996, McDonald's New Zealand bought out the Georgie Pie fast food chain.
1998: San Bernardino Site Sold to Juan Pollo
In 1998, the site of the original McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino was sold to the Juan Pollo chain.
2001: Criticism in Fast Food Nation
In 2001, Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation criticized McDonald's business practices.
2001: McDonald's Moves to Bill Elliott Racing
In the 2001 season, McDonald's moved to the No. 96 PPI Motorsports Ford, driven by rookie Andy Houston, after sponsoring Bill Elliott until then.
2002: Lawsuit Over Vegetarian French Fries
In 2002, vegetarian groups successfully sued McDonald's for misrepresenting its french fries as vegetarian when they contained beef broth.
2003: LeBron James Spokesperson for McDonald's
In 2003, LeBron James was a spokesman for McDonald's.
2004: McDonald's Returns to NASCAR
In 2004, McDonald's returned to NASCAR, joining Evernham Motorsports as a part-time sponsor for drivers Elliott, Kahne, Sadler, Allmendinger, and Sorenson.
2004: Release of Super Size Me and Subsequent Changes
In 2004, Morgan Spurlock's documentary Super Size Me claimed McDonald's food contributed to obesity. Shortly after, McDonald's eliminated the super size option and created the adult Happy Meal.
2006: "Forever Young" Brand Introduced
In 2006, McDonald's introduced its "Forever Young" brand by redesigning all of its restaurants.
April 2007: McDonald's Fined for Child Labor Violations
In April 2007, in Perth, Western Australia, McDonald's pleaded guilty to five charges relating to the employment of children under 15 in one of its outlets and was fined A$8,000.
May 2008: McDonald's Switches to Trans Fat-Free Cooking Oil
In May 2008, McDonald's announced that it would switch to using cooking oil containing no trans fats for its french fries in the United States and Canada.
September 8, 2009: McDonald's Loses Lawsuit Against McCurry
On September 8, 2009, McDonald's Malaysian operations lost a lawsuit to prevent another restaurant from calling itself McCurry, with McDonald's losing in an appeal to Malaysia's highest court, the Federal Court.
2009: McHappy Day Raises $20.4 Million
According to the Australian McHappy Day website, McHappy Day raised $20.4 million in 2009.
2010: McDonald's Partners with Chip Ganassi Racing
During the 2010 season, McDonald's began its longest partnership with a team at Chip Ganassi Racing, sponsoring the No. 1 Chevrolet driven by Jamie McMurray.
2010: Recall of Shrek-Themed Drinking Glasses
In 2010, McDonald's recalled 12 million of its promotional Shrek-themed drinking glasses due to traces of cadmium in the paint of the glass. The release of these glasses coincided with the release of the Shrek movie "Shrek Forever After".
2010: McDonald's Partnership with Evernham Motorsports Ends
In 2010, McDonald's sponsorship partnership with Evernham Motorsports ended.
2010: McHappy Day Goal Set at $20.8 Million
The goal for McHappy Day in 2010 was to raise $20.8 million.
2012: McDonald's Identified as Most Littered Brand in Queensland
In 2012, a Keep Australia Beautiful study found that McDonald's was the most littered brand in Queensland.
November 2013: Controversial Song Played at McDonald's
In November 2013, controversy arose after the Rucka Rucka Ali song "Only 17", a parody of "Just a Dream" by Nelly, was accidentally played uncensored over the speakers at a McDonald's restaurant in Wales, subsequently McDonald's issued an apology to the offended customers.
2013: McDonald's to Open Vegetarian-Only Restaurants in India
In 2013, McDonald's announced its intention to open vegetarian-only restaurants in India.
2013: Automation Probability Estimated
In 2013, the University of Oxford estimated a 92% probability of food preparation and serving becoming automated in fast food establishments in the succeeding decades.
March 2014: "Sprite 6 Mix by LeBron James" Flavor Debuts
In March 2014, a unique "Sprite 6 Mix by LeBron James" flavor of Sprite featuring the flavors of lemon-lime, orange, and cherry debuted just before the NBA playoffs. James' endorsement of Sprite has also included the seasonal "cranberry" and "winter-spiced cranberry" editions of the beverage.
2014: Final Annuity Payment Made to St. Jude
In 2014, McDonald's made the final annual $50,000 annuity payment to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, completing the 20-year commitment for the winning Monopoly game piece from 1995, even after learning it was sent by someone involved in an embezzlement scheme.
December 2015: First McDonald's Next Store Opens in Hong Kong
In December 2015, the first McDonald's Next store opened in Hong Kong, featuring open-concept design and digital ordering.
2015: All-Day Breakfast Introduced in the US
In 2015, McDonald's began offering a partial breakfast menu during all hours its restaurants were open in the United States.
2015: Steve Easterbrook Becomes CEO
In 2015, Steve Easterbrook became CEO of McDonald's, leading to menu streamlining and healthier options.
2015: "Create Your Taste" Rolled Out in Australia
In early 2015, McDonald's tried a more flexible burger service and restaurant concept based on other restaurants such as Shake Shack and Grill'd, it was rolled out for the first time in Australia.
November 2016: "Create Your Taste" Replaced by "Signature Crafted Recipes"
In November 2016, the "Create Your Taste" program was replaced by a "Signature Crafted Recipes" program.
December 29, 2016: Halal Cake Policy in McDonald's Malaysia
On December 29, 2016, McDonald's Malaysia issued a statement that said only certified halal cakes are allowed inside its restaurants nationwide.
2016: "Create Your Taste" Kiosks Introduced
By 2016, McDonald's "Create Your Taste" electronic kiosks were seen in some restaurants internationally where customers could custom order meals.
2016: Recall of Fitness Tracker Toys
In 2016, McDonald's recalled 32.6 million fitness tracker toys in their Happy Meals for causing blisters and burns. The marketing stunt was also criticized for associating fitness and health with unhealthy food and that any benefits from the children using the tracker would be shortlived.
April 2017: Supermac's Challenges McDonald's Trademarks
In April 2017, Supermac's requested the EUIPO to cancel McDonald's trademarks within the European Union. EUIPO ruled in Supermac's favor, canceling McDonald's trademarks such as "Big Mac".
2017: LeBron James Spokesperson for McDonald's Ends
In 2017, LeBron James was not a spokesman for McDonald's anymore.
2017: All-Day Breakfast Introduced in Canada
In 2017, McDonald's began offering a partial breakfast menu during all hours its restaurants were open in Canada.
2017: McDonald's Launches Mobile App
In 2017, McDonald's launched an app in the United States that allows customers to skip the ordering line inside or drive through and order online.
September 2018: McDonald's USA Removes Artificial Preservatives
In September 2018, McDonald's USA announced that they would no longer use artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors in seven classic burgers.
2018: McDonald's uses canola-based oil with corn and soy oils
By the end of 2018, McDonald's switched to canola-based oil with corn and soy oils, for its baked items, pies, and cookies
2018: McDonald's Second-Largest Private Employer
In 2018, McDonald's was the world's second-largest private employer with 1.7 million employees.
2019: Jamie McMurray's Final Race and Wallace Partnership
In 2019, McDonald's sponsored Jamie McMurray until his final race at the Daytona 500 and also had a one-race partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 Chevrolet driven by Bubba Wallace.
2019: Jenna Ries Sues McDonald's Over Sexual Harassment
In 2019, a McDonald's employee, Jenna Ries, sued the restaurant chain over allowing sexual harassment in the workplace and described the working environment as "toxic".
2019: Allegations of Harassment Raised
In 2019, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union reported over 1,000 cases of harassment involving female employees.
July 2020: McDonald's Reports Earnings Fall Due to COVID-19
In July 2020, McDonald's reported a 68% fall in earnings for the second quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 2020: "Travis Scott Meal" Release
In September 2020, McDonald's partnered with Travis Scott to release the "Travis Scott Meal," a Quarter Pounder with cheese, bacon, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, and mustard; medium fries with barbecue sauce; and a Sprite, nationwide.
November 2020: McPlant Announced
In November 2020, McDonald's announced McPlant, a plant-based burger, and plans for more meat alternative menu items.
2020: All-Day Breakfast Phased Out
In 2020, All-day breakfast was phased out from menus at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: End of James' Deal with Coca-Cola and Sprite
In 2020, LeBron James' deal with Coca-Cola and Sprite ended.
2020: Kyle Larson Suspension and Wallace Partnership
In 2020, McDonald's sponsored Kyle Larson until his suspension and had a one-race partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 Chevrolet driven by Bubba Wallace.
2020: McDonald's New Zealand Sells Meat Pies
Until 2020, McDonald's in New Zealand sold meat pies after partially relaunching the Georgie Pie fast food chain it bought out in 1996.
2021: McDonald's Serves Millions Daily
As of 2021, McDonald's serves over 69 million customers daily in over 100 countries.
2021: James Partnership with Pepsi and Mountain Dew
In 2021, LeBron James started a new partnership with Pepsi and Mountain Dew.
2021: McDonald's Continues with Chastain and Joins 23XI Racing
In 2021, McDonald's continued working with the No. 42 under new driver Ross Chastain and also joined Wallace's new team 23XI Racing as a "founding partner".
2021: "BTS Meal" Collaboration
In 2021, McDonald's partnered with Korean boy group BTS to release the "BTS Meal" in 50 countries around the world, starting on May 26 in select countries. The meal consists of a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, medium Coke, and two spicy dipping sauces: Sweet Chili and Cajun.
2021: Employee Charges of Harassment
In 2021, it emerged that at least 50 employees had filed charges against the chains regarding harassment in the workplace in five years, leading to the company instituting anti-harassment training. Some of the complainants also stated that they were verbally and physically harassed in retaliation for their complaints.
May 16, 2022: McDonald's Announces Permanent Closure and Sale of Russian Stores
On May 16, 2022, McDonald's announced that the closures of its stores in Russia would become permanent, and it was selling all 850 stores, ending 32 years of operation in the Russian market. The company also stated the business should be de-Arched, losing the McDonald's name, logo, and menu.
June 10, 2022: Russian McDonald's Buyer Announces New Logo and Rebranding
On June 10, 2022, the Russian buyer of McDonald's announced a new logo featuring a circle and two lines, representing a burger and french fries, as part of the rebranding to "Vkusno i tochka," meaning "Tasty – Period."
July 2022: Agreement Reached with French Judicial Authorities
In July 2022, the McDonald's group reached an agreement with the French judicial authorities to end criminal proceedings for tax fraud.
November 11, 2022: McDonald's in Belarus to Rebrand as Vkusno i tochka
On November 11, 2022, McDonald's in Belarus announced that all 25 stores in 6 cities would rebrand and operate as Vkusno i tochka "in several weeks".
November 2022: McDonald's Suspends Operations in Kazakhstan
In November 2022, McDonald's suspended operations in Kazakhstan due to the impossibility of supplying minced meat from Russia.
2022: Double McPlant Added in the UK and Ireland
In 2022, McDonald's announced the addition of the Double McPlant at all restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting January 4 due to the success of the McPlant.
July 2023: BBC Investigation Highlights Workplace Issues
Following a BBC investigation in July 2023, testimonies highlighted issues such as racism, homophobia, ableism, and harassment at McDonald's UK.
July 2023: CosMc's Brand Announced
In July 2023, McDonald's announced a new fast-food brand called CosMc's.
August 2023: McDonald's restaurants in Kazakhstan Rebranded as "We are open"
In August 2023, after being transferred to Food Solutions KZ, McDonald's restaurants in Kazakhstan first changed their name to "We are open" (Біз ашықпыз).
November 2023: Final Rebranding of McDonald's network in Kazakhstan
In November 2023, the final rebranding of the network in Kazakhstan was carried out. The network is now called I'M, with a heart sign used instead of a dot over the I.
December 2023: First CosMc's Location Opens
In December 2023, the first CosMc's location opened in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
2023: Child Labor Violations Found at McDonald's Franchises
In 2023, an investigation by the United States Department of Labor found child labor violations at McDonald's franchises in the state of Kentucky, which involved over 300 children, two of them 10-year-olds. A total of $212,000 was levied against three franchises for the violations. Further investigations uncovered child labor violations involving 83 minors at 16 different locations in Louisiana and Texas, with imposed fines amounting to $77,572.
2023: Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants Court Case Outcome Update
In 2023, it was reported that the 1994 trial outcome of Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants court case was an award of $2.86 million for the plaintiff, 81-year old Stella Liebeck. The amount was later reduced to $640,000.
2023: BBC Investigation on Toxic Culture
In 2023, the BBC conducted an investigation and reported that more than 100 current and recent UK workers at outlets of the fast-food chain allege there is a continuing toxic culture of sexual assault, harassment, racism and bullying.
2023: EUIPO Board of Appeal Partially Annulled Decision
In 2023, the EUIPO Board of Appeal partially annulled their decision after McDonald's filed 700 pages of additional evidence despite objections, concerning the Big Mac trademark.
January 2024: McDonald's Acknowledges Business Impact from Middle East Conflict
In January 2024, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski acknowledged the public outcry from the war in the Middle East, stating it's affecting McDonald's business and bought all 225 Israeli franchise-owned restaurants.
September 4, 2024: Millet-Based Buns Introduced in India
On September 4, 2024, McDonald's introduced millet-based buns in India, in partnership with the Central Food Technological Research Institute.
September 2024: McDonald's Surpassed in Number of Locations
As of September 2024, McDonald's is the world's second largest fast food restaurant chain by number of locations, surpassed by Chinese chain Mixue Ice Cream & Tea.
October 2024: E. coli Outbreak Associated with Quarter Pounder Burgers
In October 2024, an E. coli outbreak occurred associated with contaminated Quarter Pounder burgers from McDonald's, resulting in one death, 27 hospitalizations, and 90 illnesses across 13 US states as of October 30.
2024: CosMc's Expansion in Texas
By the end of 2024, the company is working to open nine CosMc's restaurants in Texas as a test.
2024: Vegan Ice Cream Tested in the UK
In 2024, select McDonald's in the UK were testing vegan ice cream called Choco Scoop and Strawberry Scoop and receiving positive reviews.
2024: European Court of Justice Ruling on Big Mac Trademark
In 2024, the European Court of Justice ruled that McDonald's had failed to prove the use of the Big Mac trademark in relation to chicken products or services associated with operating restaurants, allowing Supermac's and other businesses to use "Mac" in their names for poultry products in Europe. McDonald's retains the Big Mac trademark solely for its beef burgers.
January 2025: Angel Reese Special
In January 2025, WNBA player Angel Reese became the first woman to partner with McDonald's, creating the Angel Reese Special. The meal consists of a Quarter Pounder with cheese, bacon, a new barbecue sauce, medium fries, and a medium orange Hi-C or any choice of drink.
January 2025: Lawsuits Filed by Young Workers in the UK
In January 2025, it was reported that over 700 young workers had filed lawsuits against McDonald's UK, alleging widespread harassment and discrimination.
March 2025: Equality and Human Rights Commission Letter to McDonalds
In March 2025, the Equality and Human Rights Commission wrote to all 1,400 McDonalds branches telling them they must comply with their legal duties, or risk enforcement action.
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