McDonald's Fast Food Restaurant Chain

Overview

McDonald's is an American-born global quick‑service restaurant brand that began as a single drive‑in hamburger stand opened by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California in 1940 and was later franchised and expanded nationally by Ray Kroc in the 1950s. (britannica.com)

Ownership and corporate identity

Today the brand is owned and operated by McDonald's Corporation, a publicly traded U.S. multinational headquartered in Chicago, Illinois (the company relocated its global headquarters to Chicago’s West Loop). McDonald’s Corporation develops, franchises and operates restaurants worldwide and is listed publicly (ticker: MCD). (corporate.mcdonalds.com)

Manufacturing / Production / Footprint

McDonald's food and menu items are produced and prepared locally in the markets where restaurants operate; the brand sources ingredients and runs supply chains in many countries, and its restaurants and menu production therefore span multiple countries rather than a single manufacturing origin. Approximately the vast majority of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local franchisees, which means production and sourcing are regionally localized. (via.tt.se)

Franchise & regional ownership notes

McDonald's operates primarily via franchising and uses master franchisees and local partners in many regions. Examples include Arcos Dorados, the largest independent McDonald’s franchisee in Latin America and the Caribbean, and strategic partnerships in China (the CITIC-led consortium and prior Carlyle partnership) that manage local operations under long‑term agreements. These arrangements illustrate how control, ownership and operating responsibility are frequently shared with large local franchise partners. (businesswire.com)