McDonald's was founded in 1940 by brothers Maurice ("Mac") and Richard McDonald, who opened their first drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
They initially offered a simple menu featuring items like 15-cent hamburgers, shakes, and fries. The brothers revolutionized the fast-food industry by introducing the Speedee Service System in 1948, which emphasized efficiency and quick service.
This model allowed McDonald’s to serve large quantities of food at low prices, attracting significant attention and setting the foundation for its future success. In 1954, Ray Kroc, a distributor of milkshake machines, became interested in the McDonald brothers' efficient restaurant model.
Recognizing its potential, Kroc became the franchise agent for the company and, in 1955, launched McDonald’s Systems, Inc. in Des Plaines, Illinois. This marked the opening of the first McDonald's franchise under Kroc's leadership, which would eventually lead to the brand's global expansion. In 1961, Kroc bought out the McDonald brothers, transforming McDonald's into the fast-food empire it is today.