One McDonald Plaza
Oak Brook, IL 60523 USA
BUSN 5200
Company Description McDonald’s is the leading global food service retailer with more than 33,500 local restaurants serving approximately 69 million people in 119 countries each day. For years their philosophy of providing good food for a low price has led to astounding growth throughout the world. This has led to new jobs and economic benefits for wherever the stores are located. More than 80% of McDonalds restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. McDonald’s uses strong marketing and solid economic practices to insure they will not lose their position in the fast food industry.
History Ray Kroc a 52 year old milk shake salesman came across the McDonald brothers who owned and operated a small hamburger shop in Southern California. The shop served only hamburgers, French fries, sodas and milk shakes. Kroc’s was curious as to why the brothers were purchasing so many milk shake mixers and with further investigation he recommended that the brothers expand their business. Kroc’s offered his services and the first McDonalds open 1955 in Chicago and by 1965 there were more than 700 sites across the United States. It wasn’t long before McDonalds caught on in several countries and today forty seven million people are being served every day and sales are at a hefty $17 billion.
Organization The corporate structure uses a management policy and is highly decentralized, the company manages the franchises with a mixture of strict regulation and a high entrepreneurial freedom. The company believes that good management is more than a simple collection of laws and regulations and a good connection must exist between the Board of Directors, their management and the stock holders. The Leadership of the corporation rest on the shoulders of President and Chief Executive Officer Don Thompson. The governing