When you think of McDonald’s, you probably picture Big Macs, fries, and Happy Meals. But this fast-food giant has a much deeper and more surprising history than most people realize. We looked into the brand’s past and found some quirky, little-known facts that show how it became a global icon. Here are 10 things you may not know about McDonald’s.
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The first menu was mostly barbecue
The first McDonald’s restaurant opened in San Bernardino, California, in 1940, but its focus wasn’t burgers back then. The original menu was built around barbecue sandwiches, and hamburgers were just a cheap side item. It later switched to burgers, as the founders discovered that this was what customers really wanted.
The Golden Arches weren’t originally about fries
It turns out that McDonald’s Golden Arches aren’t meant to represent French fries at all. The golden shape was designed in the 1950s as a part of the restaurant’s architecture, so that drivers could see these buildings from a distance on the highway.
McDonald’s is the world’s biggest toy distributor
McDonald’s hands out more toys each year than many major companies like Hasbro and Mattel, thanks to Happy Meals. For many kids, the little toy inside was just as exciting as the burger and fries.
There’s a McDonald’s training university
Back in 1961, the company opened a “Hamburger University” in Illinois. It’s a training facility where managers and franchise owners study everything from burger-making to business strategies. Since its opening, more than 80,000 people have graduated from here.
The Filet-O-Fish was created for Catholics
A McDonald’s franchise owner in Ohio recognized that sales would dip on Fridays during the 1960s, as many Catholics would fast from meat on this day. His genius solution was to create a new fish sandwich called the Filet-O-Fish, and this soon became a nationwide favorite.
The Big Mac wasn’t invented by headquarters
One of McDonald’s most iconic burgers was created not by the corporation’s headquarters but by an independent franchise owner in Pennsylvania. In 1967, he created the Big Mac to give customers an extra-large sandwich option, and it soon became popular all over the country.
There’s a secret “McGold Card”
A select group of celebrities and other special guests have reportedly been presented with a McGold Card, which grants them free McDonald’s food for life (or for decades). Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are both rumored to have one of these.
Not every McDonald’s has the same menu
In India, where beef isn’t served due to religious restrictions, you’ll find items like the McAloo Tikki burger, which is made of potatoes instead. In Japan, you might see shrimp burgers or teriyaki chicken. This is how McDonald’s adapts to local tastes around the world.
McDonald’s once tried selling pizza
McDonald’s actually had pizza on the menu for a while in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but this didn’t last very long. Customers thought that it took too long to cook and didn’t align with the “fast food” aspect of this restaurant.
There are more McDonald’s than hospitals in the U.S.
There are 13,500 McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S., which is more than twice the number of hospitals, at around 6000. This really shows how much more common McDonald’s are than healthcare facilities in this country.
Sources: The following sources were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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