

Even White Castle is modernizing, recently adding plant-based "Impossible Burger" sliders at some locations.Ī McDonald's franchisee fretted in 2016 that only one out of five millennials has tried the Big Mac. Newer chains such as Shake Shack and Five Guys offer burgers that can make the Big Mac seem outdated. Messing with a signature menu item can be taboo, but keeping the Big Mac unchanged comes with its own risks.
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has included a series of cooking tweaks intended to improve taste. They also participate in menu development, which in the U.S. "The company has benefited from the ingenuity of its small business men," wrote Ray Kroc, who transformed the McDonald's into a global franchise, in his book, "Grinding It Out."įranchisees still play an important role, driving the recent switch to fresh from frozen for the beef in Quarter Pounders, Easterbrook says.

Other ideas from franchisees that hit the big time include the Filet-O-Fish, Egg McMuffin, Apple Pie (once deep-fried but now baked), and the Shamrock Shake. Delligatti tried a bigger sesame seed bun, and the burger soon lifted sales by more than 12 percent.Īfter similar results at more stores, the Big Mac was added to the national menu in 1968. McDonald's agreed to let Delligatti sell the sandwich at a single location, on the condition that he use the company's standard bun. There’s a new tradition in Husker Nation: Big Mac for Sacks. All I did was screw it in the socket," Delligatti said, according to "Behind the Arches." The Huskers got a Big Mac Sack in yesterday’s game, so Big Macs are buy 1, get 1 free today Offer valid at participating McDonald’s in Omaha, Lincoln, North Platte and surrounding Nebraska areas. "This wasn't like discovering the light bulb. Later, he acknowledged the Big Mac's similarity to a popular sandwich sold by the Big Boy chain. In 1967, Michael James "Jim" Delligatti lobbied the company to let him test the burger at his Pittsburgh restaurants. "Clearly, we've gotten a little more sophisticated in our menu development," McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook said in a phone interview.Īs with many of its popular and long-lasting menu items, the idea for the Big Mac came from a franchisee. The Big Mac remains unchanged, showing just how much McDonald's and the rest of fast-food have evolved. Kale now appears in salads, fresh has replaced frozen beef patties in Quarter Pounders, and some stores now offer ordering kiosks, food delivery and barista-style cafes.

But on its critical home turf, the company is toiling to stay relevant. The "Golden Arches" still have a massive global reach, and the McDonald's brand of cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets and french fries remains recognizable around the world.
