It all began in the restaurant of the two brothers Mac and Dick McDonald in San Bernadino, California in 1948.
Their philosophy - a limited menu, low prices and a systematic kitchen process - gave them the opportunity to serve more customers in shorter time.
The company, as we know it today, was not created by both brothers, but by Ray Crock.
In 1954, when Ray Crock met the McDonald brothers in San Bernadino, he was amazed at how well and how fast they served a large number of hungry drivers. The cars approached the restaurant, customers bought their food and continued their journey without delay. The conclusion was clear to Ray Krock: "People need quality, but more than anything fast service. They are looking for an alternative to traditional eating. " Ray Crock signed a contract with the McDonald brothers, allowing him to use their sales system and company name.
Ray Krock opened his first restaurant in 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois, introducing the working principles of the two brothers McDonald.
Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Good Price are still McDonald's main principles.
In other words, this means:
High quality products served with a friendly smile in a clean environment and at a good price.
McDonald's around the world
1967 This is the year in which McDonald's opens its first restaurant outside the US - Canada, and has since started the development of the company on an international scale.
In April 1988 McDonald launched for the first time in the former Eastern Bloc and opened restaurants in Hungary and Yugoslavia.
September 1991: McDonald's established a Central Office for Central Europe in Vienna, which successfully coordinated the opening of new restaurants in European countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Slovakia, building 292 restaurants in 13 countries 1996.
1994 Bulgaria is the 75th country where McDonald's opens a restaurant. The first restaurant in Bulgaria was opened in Plovdiv.
1995 In December, the first McDonald's restaurant in Sofia, Slaveikov Square / the second McDonald's restaurant in Bulgaria / Ronald McDonald made its debut with a big parade in Sofia on the occasion of the opening of the McDonald's restaurant in Plovdiv Slaveikov.
1996 The first MacDrive restaurant in Bulgaria, Sofia was opened. For the first time McDonald's offers the unique service for Bulgaria - customer service from their cars.
1998 In March the first McDonald's restaurant in Varna was opened and in April the first McDonald's restaurant in Burgas was opened.
2004 McDonald's celebrates its 10th anniversary in Bulgaria. In the same year, the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay went through 4 McDonald's restaurants in Sofia.
2006 The first McDonald's restaurant in Mall in Bulgaria - Mall of Sofia was opened. In the same year, McDonald's ranked "Big Companies" in the survey "Best Employer for 2006 in Bulgaria".
2007 The first McCafé in Bulgaria was opened, at Mall Sofia in October. McCafé is a McDonald's brand - a concept that combines a cozy and stylish setting, an excellent selection of coffee drinks, gourmet desserts and pastries.
2008 The first restaurant of McDonald's in Stara Zagora was opened.
2014 McDonald's celebrates 20 years in Bulgaria.
At present, McDonald's is the largest chain of fast-food restaurants with over 35,000 restaurants in over 100 countries around the world.
