Full History Of McDonald's In Timeline From 1940

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. This marked the beginning of what would become a global fast-food empire.

1940: McDonald's Founded

In 1940, Richard and Maurice McDonald founded McDonald's as a restaurant in San Bernardino, California. The brothers initially operated a restaurant before rechristening their business as a hamburger stand.

1948: "Speedee Service System" Introduced

In 1948, the McDonald brothers introduced the "Speedee Service System," a pioneering approach to fast-food preparation. This system streamlined operations and set the standard for modern fast-food restaurants.

1953: Golden Arches Introduced

In 1953, the Golden Arches logo was introduced at a McDonald's location in Phoenix, Arizona. This marked a significant step in the company's branding and visual identity.

April 15, 1955: Kroc's First McDonald's Restaurant

On April 15, 1955, Ray Kroc opened his first franchised McDonald's restaurant, marking a pivotal moment in the company's expansion. This location was the ninth McDonald's restaurant overall.

1955: Ray Kroc Joins McDonald's

In 1955, Ray Kroc, a businessman, joined McDonald's as a franchise agent. This partnership would eventually lead to Kroc taking control of the company and driving its expansion.

May 4, 1961: Trademark Filing for "McDonald's"

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: Kroc Buys Out McDonald Brothers

In 1961, Ray Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers, gaining full control of the company. This acquisition paved the way for McDonald's to become a global fast-food empire.

1961: Kroc Purchases McDonald Brothers' Equity

In 1961, Ray Kroc purchased the McDonald brothers' equity in the company for $2.7 million, gaining full control and setting the stage for worldwide expansion.

1962: Golden Arches Replace Speedee

In 1962, the Golden Arches officially replaced "Speedee" as the universal mascot for McDonald's. This branding change solidified the iconic imagery associated with the restaurant chain.

1963: Ronald McDonald Introduced

In 1963, Ronald McDonald, the clown mascot, was introduced to market the McDonald's chain to children. This marked the beginning of McDonald's focus on family-oriented marketing and branding.

November 18, 1968: Trademark Granted for Golden Arches

On November 18, 1968, the company was granted a U.S. trademark for the present version of the "Golden Arches" logo. This solidified the iconic imagery associated with the restaurant chain.

1970: McDonald's Had a Net Increase in Locations

In 2015, McDonald's closed down 184 restaurants in the United States, which was the first time McDonald's had a net decrease in the number of locations in the United States since 1970.

1971: Original Restaurant Torn Down

In 1971, the original San Bernardino McDonald's restaurant was torn down. This marked the end of an era for the founding location of the fast-food chain.

1971: McDonald's Moves Headquarters to Oak Brook

McDonald's moved into the Oak Brook facility from an office within the Chicago Loop in 1971.

1975: Drive-Thru Introduced

In 1975, McDonald's introduced the Drive-Thru service in Sierra Vista, Arizona. This innovation allowed customers to order and pick up their food without leaving their vehicles.

1975: McDonald's Opens in Hong Kong

When it opened in Hong Kong in 1975, McDonald's 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 Cup Series

In 1977, McDonald's entered the NASCAR Cup Series, sponsoring Richard Childress for one race.

1984: Rebuilt Restaurant

In 1984, the ninth restaurant was destroyed and rebuilt.

1986: McDonald's Sponsors a Handful of Races

Between 1977 and 1986, McDonald's sponsored only a handful of races in a season in NASCAR Cup Series.

1986: First UK Drive-Thru

In 1986, the first McDonald's Drive-Thru restaurant in Britain opened at Fallowfield, Manchester.

1987: First PlayPlace Introduced

In 1987, the first PlayPlace with the familiar crawl-tube design with ball pits and slides was introduced in the US. Soon after, more were constructed.

1990: London Greenpeace Criticizes McDonald's Leading to "McLibel Case"

In 1990, activists from London Greenpeace criticized McDonald's, leading to the "McLibel case," one of the longest cases in English civil law.

1992: Michael Jordan's "McJordan" Value Meal at McDonald's

In 1992, basketball player Michael Jordan became the first celebrity to have a McDonald's value meal named after him. The "McJordan," a Quarter Pounder with pickles, raw onion slices, bacon, and barbecue sauce, was available at Chicago franchises.

1993: McDonald's Becomes Full-Time Sponsor for Junior Johnson & Associates

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. This concept aimed to add a café-style experience to McDonald's restaurants.

1994: Jimmy Spencer Replaces Hut Stricklin, Wins Twice

In 1994, Jimmy Spencer replaced Hut Stricklin in the No. 27 car and won twice that season for Junior Johnson & Associates sponsored by Mcdonald's.

1994: Hearth Express Experiment

In 1994, McDonald's attempted Hearth Express, a prototype specializing in homestyle takeout meals in Darien, Illinois. This experiment closed in only one year.

1994: Smoking Ban Begins

In 1994, McDonald's began banning smoking when it restricted customers from smoking within its 1,400 wholly owned restaurants.

1994: Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants Court Case

In 1994, the Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants court case examined McDonald's practice of serving excessively hot coffee, resulting in a $2.86 million award for Stella Liebeck, later reduced to $640,000.

1995: St. Jude Receives Winning McDonald's Monopoly Game Piece

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

In 1996, McDonald's New Zealand bought out the Georgie Pie fast food chain.

1997: McDonald's Sales Dropped

In 2014, its quarterly sales fell for the first time in seventeen years, when its sales dropped for the entirety of 1997.

1998: Site Sold to Juan Pollo Chain

In 1998, the site of the original San Bernardino McDonald's restaurant was sold to the Juan Pollo chain. The area now serves as headquarters for Juan Pollo and houses a McDonald's and Route 66 museum.

1999: McDonald's invests in Aroma Cafe

From 1999, McDonald's owned a small share of Aroma Café, before focusing on their core brand.

1999: E-Clerks Tested

In 1999, McDonald's first tested "E-Clerks" in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and Wyoming, Michigan, with the devices being able to "save money on live staffers" and attracting larger purchase amounts than average employees.

2001: Fast Food Nation Discusses McDonald's Impact

According to Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (2001), nearly one in eight workers in the U.S. have at some time been employed by McDonald's.

2001: Fast Food Nation Criticizes McDonald's

In 2001, Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food Nation included criticism of McDonald's business practices, particularly concerning political influence and targeting advertisements to children.

2001: McDonald's Moves Sponsorship to Bill Elliott Racing

In 2001, McDonald's moved its NASCAR sponsorship to the No. 96 PPI Motorsports Ford, driven by rookie Andy Houston.

2001: McDonald's divests from Aroma Cafe

Until 2001, McDonald's owned a small share of Aroma Café, before focusing on their core brand.

2002: McDonald's Sued for Misrepresenting French Fries as Vegetarian

In 2002, vegetarian groups successfully sued McDonald's for misrepresenting its french fries as vegetarian, when they contained beef broth.

December 2003: McDonald's Divests from Donatos Pizza

Until December 2003, McDonald's owned Donatos Pizza, before focusing on their core brand.

2003: LeBron James Becomes Spokesman for McDonald's

In 2003, LeBron James became a spokesman for McDonald's.

2004: McDonald's Returns to NASCAR with Evernham Motorsports

In 2004, McDonald's returned to NASCAR, joining Evernham Motorsports as a part-time sponsor for various drivers.

2004: Super Size Me Documentary Claims McDonald's Contributes to Obesity

Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary film Super Size Me claimed that McDonald's food was contributing to the increase of obesity in society and that the company was failing to provide nutritional information. McDonald's responded by eliminating the super size option and creating the adult Happy Meal.

October 2006: McDonald's Divests from Chipotle Mexican Grill

In October 2006, McDonald's fully divested from Chipotle Mexican Grill through a stock exchange, after owning a majority stake.

2006: "Forever Young" Brand Introduced

In 2006, McDonald's introduced its "Forever Young" brand, redesigning all of its restaurants with a warmer look, wooden tables, and muted colors. This was the first significant redesign since the 1970s.

April 2007: McDonald's Fined for Employing Underage Children in Australia

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.

August 27, 2007: McDonald's Sells Boston Market

On August 27, 2007, McDonald's sold Boston Market to Sun Capital Partners, focusing on its core brand.

2007: McHappy Day Celebrated in 17 Countries

In 2007, McHappy Day was celebrated in 17 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, France, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and Uruguay.

May 2008: McDonald's Switches to Trans Fat-Free Cooking Oil

In May 2008, McDonald's announced that it had switched to using cooking oil that contains no trans fats for its french fries in the United States and Canada.

September 8, 2009: McDonald's Loses McCurry Lawsuit in Malaysia

On September 8, 2009, McDonald's Malaysian operations lost a lawsuit to prevent another restaurant from calling itself McCurry. McDonald's lost 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 Continues Sponorship with Evernham Motorsports

In 2010, McDonald's Continues Sponorship with Evernham Motorsports.

2010: McDonald's Partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing

In 2010, McDonald's began its longest partnership with a team at Chip Ganassi Racing, sponsoring the No. 1 Chevrolet driven by Jamie McMurray.

2010: McDonald's Recalls 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.

2010: McHappy Day Goal Set at $20.8 Million

In 2010, the goal for Australian McHappy Day was $20.8 million.

October 2012: McDonald's Monthly Sales Fall for the First Time in Nine Years

In October 2012, McDonald's monthly sales fell for the first time in nine years.

2012: McDonald's Pledges to Phase Out Gestation Crates

In 2012, McDonald's pledged to phase out pork from facilities that use gestation crates.

2012: McDonald's Found to Be Most Littered Brand in Queensland

In 2012, a Keep Australia Beautiful study found that McDonald's was the most littered brand in Queensland.

April 2013: Fast Food Workers in NYC Paid Less Than Legal Wages

A study by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research released in April 2013, revealed that approximately 84% of fast food employees in New York City had been paid less than their legal wages by their employers.

August 5, 2013: McDonald's UK Workforce on Zero-Hour Contracts

On August 5, 2013, The Guardian reported that 90% of McDonald's UK workforce were on zero-hour contracts, making the company possibly the largest private sector employer with such contracts in the country.

November 2013: McDonald's Apologizes for Playing Offensive Song in Wales

In November 2013, controversy arose after the Rucka Rucka Ali song "Only 17" was accidentally played uncensored over the speakers at a McDonald's restaurant in Wales. Subsequently, McDonald's issued an apology to the offended customers.

December 2013: McDonald's Shuts Down McResource Website

In December 2013, McDonald's shut down the McResource website, which had advised employees on financial and life issues, amidst negative publicity and criticism.

2013: Automation Probability Estimated

In 2013, the University of Oxford estimated that in the succeeding decades, there was a 92% probability of food preparation and serving becoming automated in fast food establishments.

2013: McDonald's Plans Vegetarian-Only Restaurants in India

McDonald's stated it would open vegetarian-only restaurants in India by mid-2013.

March 2014: Debut of "Sprite 6 Mix by LeBron James"

In March 2014, the unique "Sprite 6 Mix by LeBron James" flavor of Sprite, featuring lemon-lime, orange, and cherry flavors, debuted just before the NBA playoffs.

August 2014: McDonald's operations in Crimea suspended

McDonald's suspended operations in its corporate-owned stores in Crimea after Russia annexed the region in August 2014.

August 20, 2014: Russia Temporarily Shuts Down McDonald's Outlets in Moscow

On August 20, 2014, the Russian government temporarily shut down four McDonald's outlets in Moscow, citing sanitary concerns, amidst rising tensions between the United States and Russia over the annexation of Crimea.

August 23, 2014: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dismisses Ban on McDonald's

On August 23, 2014, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich ruled out any government move to ban McDonald's and dismissed the notion that the temporary closures had anything to do with the sanctions.

September 2014: McDonald's Announces Elimination of Caged Eggs

By September 2014, McDonald's responded to criticism and announced they would strive to eliminate caged eggs by 2017.

2014: McDonald's Completes Payments 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 period.

2014: McDonald's Quarterly Sales Fall for the First Time in Seventeen Years

In 2014, McDonald's quarterly sales fell for the first time in seventeen years.

January 28, 2015: Don Thompson Steps Down as CEO of McDonald's

On January 28, 2015, Don Thompson stepped down as CEO of McDonald's, being succeeded by Steve Easterbrook.

March 1, 2015: Steve Easterbrook Becomes CEO of McDonald's

On March 1, 2015, Steve Easterbrook became CEO of McDonald's, succeeding Don Thompson.

March 2015: McDonald's Workers File Health and Safety Complaints

In March 2015, McDonald's workers in 19 U.S. cities filed 28 health and safety complaints with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, alleging injuries due to low staffing, lack of protective gear, poor training, and pressure to work fast.

July 2015: Switzerland Has Most Expensive Big Mac

As of July 2015, Switzerland had the most expensive Big Mac in the world, according to The Economist's "Big Mac Index".

November 10, 2015: McDonald's Decides Against Real Estate Investment Trust

At its investor conference on November 10, 2015, McDonald's announced that it would not spin off its U.S. holdings into a real estate investment trust, as CEO Steve Easterbrook considered the risk to the business model too large.

December 2015: First McDonald's Next Opens

In December 2015, the first McDonald's Next, using open-concept design and offering "Create Your Taste" digital ordering, opened in Hong Kong.

2015: Steve Easterbrook's Compensation

In 2015, McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook had a base salary of $1.3 million and received $15.4 million in total compensation.

2015: All-Day Breakfast Trials Begin

In 2015, McDonald's began offering a partial breakfast menu during all hours its restaurants were open, after limited trials on a regional basis in the United States.

2015: McDonald's Closes Restaurants in the US

In 2015, McDonald's closed down 184 restaurants in the United States, marking the first net decrease in US locations since 1970.

2015: McDonald's Pledges to Stop Using Battery Cage Eggs

In 2015, McDonald's pledged to stop using eggs from battery cage facilities by 2025 for all American restaurants.

2015: Steve Easterbrook Becomes CEO

In 2015, Steve Easterbrook became CEO of McDonald's and began streamlining the menu and introducing healthier options. This shift marked a change in the company's approach to menu offerings and ingredients.

2015: "Create Your Taste" Rollout

In early 2015, McDonald's introduced the more flexible burger service and restaurant concept "Create Your Taste" (CYT) for the first time in Australia. Later expanded to China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Arabia, and New Zealand.

June 13, 2016: McDonald's Announces Move to Chicago's West Loop

On June 13, 2016, McDonald's confirmed plans to move its global headquarters to Chicago's West Loop neighborhood in the Near West Side.

November 2016: "Create Your Taste" Replaced

In November 2016, "Create Your Taste" was replaced by a "Signature Crafted Recipes" program designed to be more efficient and less expensive.

December 29, 2016: McDonald's Malaysia Restricts Cakes Allowed in Restaurants

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

By 2016, McDonald's "Create Your Taste" electronic kiosks were seen in some restaurants internationally where customers could custom order meals.

January 9, 2017: McDonald's Sells Franchise Rights in China and Hong Kong

On January 9, 2017, McDonald's sold 80% of the franchise rights in mainland China and Hong Kong for US$2.08 billion to a consortium of CITIC Limited, Private equity funds managed by CITIC Capital and Carlyle.

April 2017: Supermac's Challenges McDonald's Trademarks in the EU

In April 2017, Irish fast-food chain Supermac's submitted a request to the European Union Property Office to cancel McDonald's owned trademarks within the European Union, claiming that McDonald's engaged in "trademark bullying".

April 2017: McDonald's UK offers fixed contracts

In April 2017, following employee strikes, McDonald's UK gave all employees the option of fixed contracts instead of zero-hour contracts.

September 2017: McDonald's Stores Strike Over Zero-Hours Contracts

In September 2017, two British McDonald's stores agreed to a strike over zero-hours contracts for staff, with picket lines formed around the stores in Crayford and Cambridge, and the strike was supported by then Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn.

2017: McDonald's Goal to Eliminate Caged Eggs

By September 2014, McDonald's announced they would strive to eliminate caged eggs by 2017.

2017: LeBron James's Tenure as Spokesman for McDonald's Ends

In 2017, LeBron James ended his tenure as a spokesman for McDonald's.

2017: McDonald's Partners with Uber Eats for Delivery

In 2017, McDonald's began its on-demand delivery concept with a partnership with Uber Eats.

2017: All-Day Breakfast in Canada

In 2017, McDonald's began offering a partial breakfast menu during all hours its restaurants were open, after limited trials on a regional basis in Canada.

2017: Mobile Ordering App Launched

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.

January 2018: McDonald's Achieves Goal of Eliminating Caged Eggs

By January 2018, McDonald's announced they had succeeded in meeting their goal of eliminating caged eggs.

June 4, 2018: McDonald's Global Headquarters Opens in Chicago

McDonald's new 608,000-square-foot global headquarters opened in Chicago on June 4, 2018, built on the former site of Harpo Productions.

June 2018: McDonald's Headquarters Move

In June 2018, McDonald's moved its headquarters from Oak Brook, Illinois, to nearby Chicago. This relocation marked a new chapter in the company's history and corporate strategy.

September 2018: Artificial Preservatives Removed

In September 2018, McDonald's USA announced they no longer use artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors in seven classic burgers sold in the U.S.. This marked a significant step towards healthier ingredients.

2018: McDonald's Global Presence and Employment

As of the end of 2018, McDonald's had restaurants in 120 countries and territories, served 68 million customers daily, and employed more than 210,000 people across 37,855 restaurants worldwide.

2018: McDonald's to Use Canola Based Oil

By the end of 2018, Mcdonald's was using canola-based oil with corn and soy oils for its baked items, pies, and cookies.

2018: Second-Largest Private Employer

In 2018, McDonald's was the world's second-largest private employer with 1.7 million employees, surpassed only by Walmart. This highlights McDonald's significant global workforce.

September 2019: Apprente Purchase

In September 2019, McDonald's purchased an AI-based start-up, Apprente, to replace human servers with voice-based technology in its US drive-throughs.

November 2019: Steve Easterbrook Removed as CEO

In November 2019, McDonald's board of directors voted to remove Steve Easterbrook as CEO due to a violation of corporate policies on personal conduct, and he was replaced by Chris Kempczinski.

2019: Jenna Ries Sues McDonald's Over Sexual Harassment

In 2019, Jenna Ries, a McDonald's employee, sued the restaurant chain over allowing sexual harassment in the workplace, describing the environment as "toxic."

2019: McDonald's Adds DoorDash for Delivery

In 2019, McDonald's added DoorDash as a delivery partner.

2019: McDonald's Sponsorship of Bubba Wallace

In 2019, McDonald's had a one-race partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 Chevrolet driven by Bubba Wallace.

2019: McDonald's Sales Account for Nearly 4% of Global Restaurant Industry

In 2019, the $100 billion in sales generated by McDonald's company-owned and franchise restaurants accounted for almost 4% of the estimated $2.5 trillion global restaurant industry.

2019: Harassment Allegations Raised in 2019

In 2019, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union reported over 1,000 cases of harassment involving female employees at McDonald's, signaling earlier concerns regarding workplace conditions.

July 2020: Earnings Drop Due to COVID-19

In July 2020, McDonald's reported a 68% fall in earnings for the year's second quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was largely due to closed seating and play areas in its United States restaurants.

September 2020: McDonald's Partners with Travis Scott for "Travis Scott Meal"

In September 2020, McDonald's partnered with rapper 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. Scott also designed new uniforms and released Cactus Jack merchandise.

November 2020: McPlant Announced

In November 2020, McDonald's announced McPlant, a plant-based burger, along with plans to develop additional meat alternative menu items. This announcement marked McDonald's entry into the plant-based food market.

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 LeBron James' Deal with Coca-Cola and Sprite

In 2020, LeBron James' endorsement deal with Coca-Cola and Sprite ended.

2020: McDonald's Sponsors Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace

In 2020, McDonald's sponsored CGR's No. 42 of Kyle Larson until his suspension and also 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

In New Zealand, McDonald's sold meat pies until 2020 after local affiliate McDonald's New Zealand partially relaunched the Georgie Pie fast food chain it bought out in 1996.

2021: Global Presence in 2021

As of 2021, McDonald's operates over 40,000 outlets in over 100 countries, serving over 69 million customers daily. This showcases the vast scale and reach of the McDonald's franchise.

2021: Animal Rights Activists Blockade McDonald's Distribution Centers

In 2021, Animal Rising blockaded four UK McDonald's distribution centers using bamboo towers, leading to food shortages at restaurants due to concerns about "suffering of animals" in the McDonald's supply chain.

2021: LeBron James Partners with Pepsi and Mountain Dew

In 2021, LeBron James launched a new partnership with Pepsi and Mountain Dew.

2021: McDonald's Adds Grubhub for Delivery in Select Locations

In 2021, McDonald's added Grubhub for delivery in select locations.

2021: McDonald's Continues Partnership with Ross Chastain and Bubba Wallace

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: McDonald's Cuts Value Meals

In 2021, McDonald's cut value meals and cheaper items from its menu as part of a focus on higher-priced items.

2021: McDonald's Partners with BTS for "BTS Meal"

In 2021, McDonald's partnered with Korean boy group BTS to release the "BTS Meal" in 50 countries, starting on May 26 in select countries. The meal included a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, medium Coke, and two new spicy dipping sauces.

2021: Harassment Charges Filed Against McDonald's

In 2021, it emerged that at least 50 employees had filed charges against McDonald's chains regarding harassment in the workplace in five years, leading to the company instituting anti-harassment training.

March 8, 2022: McDonald's Temporarily Closes Locations in Russia

On March 8, 2022, McDonald's temporarily closed their 850 locations in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine.

May 16, 2022: McDonald's Announces Permanent Closure and Sale of Russian Stores

On May 16, 2022, McDonald's announced the permanent closure and sale of its 850 stores in Russia after 32 years in the Soviet market. The company plans to "de-Arch" its Russian business, retaining trademarks but disallowing the use of the McDonald's name, logo, or menu. McDonald's also committed to paying its 60,000 Russian employees until the sale was finalized.

June 10, 2022: Russian McDonald's Rebrands as Vkusno i tochka

On June 10, 2022, the buyer of the Russian McDonald's announced a new logo featuring a circle and two lines representing a burger and french fries. The rebranded business was named Vkusno i tochka, roughly translated to "Tasty – Period."

July 2022: McDonald's Reaches Agreement with French Authorities on Tax Fraud

In July 2022, McDonald's reached an agreement with the French judicial authorities to end criminal proceedings for tax fraud.

August 2022: McDonald's Announces Changes to Board

In August 2022, McDonald's announced significant changes to its board, including the retirement of Sheila Penrose and the addition of Anthony Capuano, Jennifer Taubert, and Amy Weaver.

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 supply issues related to minced meat from Russia.

2022: Double McPlant in UK and Ireland

In late 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.

2022: McDonald's Restaurant in Murmansk, Russia Closed

The northernmost McDonald's restaurant in the world used to be located in Rovaniemi, Finland until the restaurant in Murmansk, Russia was closed in 2022.

July 2023: CosMc's Brand Announced

In July 2023, McDonald's announced it was working towards a new fast-food brand called CosMc's that would be tested at ten sites.

July 2023: BBC Investigation Highlights Harassment Issues at McDonald's UK

In July 2023, a BBC investigation highlighted racism, homophobia, ableism, and harassment issues at McDonald's UK, leading to increased scrutiny and awareness of the problems.

August 2023: McDonald's Restaurants in Kazakhstan Renamed

In August 2023, the McDonald's restaurants in Kazakhstan, after being transferred to Food Solutions KZ, were renamed "We are open" (Біз ашықпыз), in honor of the best employees.

November 2023: Final Rebranding of McDonald's in Kazakhstan

In November 2023, the final rebranding of the McDonald's network in Kazakhstan was carried out, with the new name being I'M, using a heart sign instead of a dot over the I.

December 2023: First CosMc's Opens

In December 2023, the first CosMc's location was opened in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

December 30, 2023: McDonald's Largest Shareholders

The ten largest shareholders of McDonald's on December 30, 2023, were:

2023: Boycott of McDonald's Amidst Israel-Hamas War

Amidst the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, McDonald's in Israel faced condemnation for providing free meals to the Israel Defense Forces. The hashtag #BoycottMcDonalds gained traction, and protests occurred outside restaurants in Lebanon and Egypt. McDonald's in other countries distanced themselves from the Israeli brand.

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 Kentucky, involving over 300 children, including two 10-year-olds, and resulting in $212,000 in fines.

2023: BBC Investigation Reveals Toxic Culture at McDonald's UK

In 2023, the BBC conducted an investigation and reported that more than 100 current and recent UK workers at McDonald's outlets allege there is a continuing toxic culture of sexual assault, harassment, racism, and bullying.

2023: EUIPO Partially Annulls Decision on McDonald's Trademarks

In 2023, the EUIPO Board of Appeal partially annulled their decision on McDonald's trademarks after McDonald's filed additional evidence.

2023: Award amount equivalent in 2023 for Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants Court Case

In 2023, the equivalent amount was approximately $5.33 million for the original award of $2.86 million and approximately $1.2 million for the reduced award amount of $640,000 from the 1994 Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants court case.

2023: First Largely Automated Restaurant Opens

In early 2023, McDonald's opened its first largely automated restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas. The restaurant de-emphasizes human contact when ordering.

January 2024: McDonald's is opening a new restaurant in Tromsø, Norway

From January 2024 this will change again as McDonald's is opening a new restaurant in Tromsø, Norway, making it the northernmost location.

January 2024: McDonald's Acknowledges Boycott Impact and Buys Israeli Franchise

In January 2024, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski acknowledged the business impact from boycotts due to the war and misinformation. As a result, McDonald's bought all 225 Israeli franchise-owned restaurants.

February 2024: McDonald's Eliminates Caged Eggs Ahead of Schedule

McDonald's met their goal nearly two years ahead of schedule, announcing the successful elimination of caged eggs in February 2024.

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. This new bun formulation includes a blend of major and minor millets, enhancing its nutritional profile with more calcium, iron, and protein.

October 2024: E. coli Outbreak

In October 2024, an E. coli outbreak occurred associated with contaminated Quarter Pounder burgers from McDonald's. As of October 30, one person died, 27 were hospitalized, and 90 were sickened across 13 US states.

December 2024: McDonald's Board of Directors

As of December 2024, the board of directors had the following members:

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 Testing

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 Rules Against McDonald's on Big Mac Trademark for Chicken Products

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, meaning Supermac's and other businesses are now free to use the "Mac" in their business names and in names for poultry products in Europe.

January 2025: McDonald's UK Faces Lawsuits Over Harassment and Discrimination

In January 2025, McDonald's UK faced lawsuits from over 700 young workers alleging widespread harassment and discrimination, with claims handled by Leigh Day and spanning over 450 restaurants.

2025: McDonald's Target Year to Stop Using Battery Cage Eggs