BIGGER IS BETTER!
In 1954, Ray Kroc, a sales man who sold milkshake machines, learned that the McDonald brothers were using eight of his machines in their San Bernardino restaurant. He went to San Bernardino to take a look at the McDonalds' restaurant. Ray thought that the McDonalds' formula was a money-making idea, so he suggested that they franchise their restaurants throughout the country. When they weren't sure to except this, Kroc volunteered to do it for them. He went back to his home outside of Chicago with rights to set up McDonald's restaurants throughout the country. Kroc's first McDonald's restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955.
Kroc looked for franchisees for his McDonald's chain. In 1956 he discovered that the McDonald brothers had licensed the franchise rights for Cook County, Illinois to the Frejlack Ice Cream Company. Kroc was incensed that the McDonalds had not told him of this deal. He purchased the rights back for $25,000, five times what the Frejlacks had originally paid. McDonald's grew slowly for its first three years. By 1958, there were 34 restaurants. In 1959, however, Kroc opened 68 new restaurants, bringing the total to 102 locations.
In 1960, the McDonald's advertising campaign "Look for the Golden Arches" gave increased sales. advertising has always played a key role in the development of the McDonald's. In 1962, McDonald's introduced its now world-famous Golden Arches logo. A year later, the company sold its billionth hamburger and introduced Ronald McDonald, a red-haired clown designed to appeal to children.
In the early 1960s, McDonald's really began to take off. The growth of the car contributed a lot to McDonald's success. In 1961 Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers for $2.7 million, trying to make McDonald's the number one fast-food chain in the country.
Kroc looked for franchisees for his McDonald's chain. In 1956 he discovered that the McDonald brothers had licensed the franchise rights for Cook County, Illinois to the Frejlack Ice Cream Company. Kroc was incensed that the McDonalds had not told him of this deal. He purchased the rights back for $25,000, five times what the Frejlacks had originally paid. McDonald's grew slowly for its first three years. By 1958, there were 34 restaurants. In 1959, however, Kroc opened 68 new restaurants, bringing the total to 102 locations.
In 1960, the McDonald's advertising campaign "Look for the Golden Arches" gave increased sales. advertising has always played a key role in the development of the McDonald's. In 1962, McDonald's introduced its now world-famous Golden Arches logo. A year later, the company sold its billionth hamburger and introduced Ronald McDonald, a red-haired clown designed to appeal to children.
In the early 1960s, McDonald's really began to take off. The growth of the car contributed a lot to McDonald's success. In 1961 Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers for $2.7 million, trying to make McDonald's the number one fast-food chain in the country.