McDonald's

McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hamburger stand and later turned the company into a franchise, with the Golden Arches logo being introduced in 1953 at a location in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1955, Ray Kroc, a businessman, joined the company as a franchise agent and, in 1961, bought out the McDonald brothers. Previously headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, it moved to nearby Chicago in June 2018. McDonald's is also a real estate company through its ownership of around 70% of restaurant buildings and 45% of the underlying land.

Some of the key events about McDonald's

1955
The first McDonald's franchise restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois
1961
Hamburger University was established to train employees in restaurant operations
1967
The first McDonald's restaurant outside the United States opened in Canada
1974
The first Ronald McDonald House opened to provide accommodation for families with hospitalized children
1975
The drive-thru window was introduced, revolutionizing fast-food service
1977
The company was sued for trademark infringement over the use of the name "Ronald McDonald"
1983
Chicken McNuggets were added to the menu, becoming an instant success
1986
A scandal erupted over the use of beef fat in McDonald's french fries despite claims they were vegetarian-friendly
1990
The first McDonald's in Moscow opened, symbolizing the end of the Cold War
1990
The company faced criticism for its environmental impact, particularly its use of polystyrene packaging
1994
The company launched its first global environmental policy
1994
A lawsuit was filed against McDonald's for serving coffee that was allegedly too hot, resulting in severe burns
2001
The company was implicated in a scheme to rig McDonald's promotional games, defrauding customers of millions in prize money
2002
McDonald's published its first Social Responsibility Report
2002
McDonald's settled a class-action lawsuit for misleading vegetarians about the use of beef flavoring in its french fries
2006
The company faced backlash for its role in contributing to the global obesity epidemic
2012
McDonald's was criticized for its low wages and labor practices, leading to widespread employee strikes
2014
The company was accused of tax avoidance in Europe, sparking investigations by the European Commission
2015
The company announced a commitment to source 100% cage-free eggs in the U.S. and Canada
2018
McDonald's faced multiple sexual harassment complaints from employees across the United States

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.