| The McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is an American corporation, the largest chain of fast food restaurants in the world. According to the results of 2007, the McDonald’s Corporation is in the list of Fortune 500 (occupies 318th spot). The Headquarters is in the Chicago suburb of Oak-Brook, USA.
The History of McDonald's:
The company was founded in 1940 by Dick and Mac McDonald brothers (first restaurant was opened in San Bernardino, California) and in 1948, they introduced the principles of “Fast Food” for the first time in the world.
In 1954, Ray Kroc acquired the franchise rights from the McDonald brothers. In 1955, Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald’s in the small town of Des-Plaines, Illinois (now the museum of the McDonald’s Corporation). In 1955, Kroc registered the company McDonald's System, Inc (in 1960, it was renamed to McDonald’s Corporation). In 1961, all rights in the company were completely redeemed by Kroc.
Proprietors and management
President of the Company — Ralph Alvarez
Activities
More than 31000 restaurants work under the brand McDonald’s , in which more than 1.5 million workers work and McDonald’s is found in more than 119 countries on 6 continents (out of them, a significant portion are franchisees and hence, the assortment in restaurants, size and the structure of the franchisees vividly differ in various countries). The food from the restaurants includes hamburgers (including the well-known “Big Mac”), sandwiches, French fries, desserts, drinks, etc. Beer is served in the majority of restaurants around the world; however, “McDonald's” restaurants in Russia are completely nonalcoholic.
With an aim to provide the people of the state in which the restaurants are operating, the use of only local products by such restaurants is the principal doctrine of the company “McDonald’s”. Practically, all products, which are served in the “McDonald's” chain of restaurants in any country, are made in the same country itself. In percentage parity, the quantitative composition of local products fluctuates between 70 and 85%, depending on a certain country (in Russia, according to the official site “McDonald's-Russia” this figure is 75 and in Ukraine, 83). The potato is an exception, which is supplied exclusively from Poland and Holland and sauce for the sandwiches is delivered from the USA the composition of which is a trade secret.
One of the fastest growing projects in the company is the coffee shop chain, called the McCafé.
The revenue of the company in 2005 is 20.5 USD billion (in 2004 — 19 USD billion) and net profit is 2.6 USD billion (in 2004 — 2.3 USD billion). The market capitalization as of February 6, 2006 — about 45.3 USD billion.
McDonald’s in various countries
Home delivery from McDonald’s
In various countries worldwide, home delivery services from McDonald’s exist. Delivery services exist in the USA, in fast-developing countries (China, India, Singapore, South Korea, Brazil and others) and also in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Russia. In total about 25 countries worldwide.
Criticism
Since February 2008, all McDonald's restaurants use only new vegetable oil with a low-content of trans-isomer (not more than 2%) and saturated fat acids (no more than 12%).
In the documentary film “Super Size Me”, directed by Morgan Spurlock, the protagonist of the film ate food from the fast food restaurants for 30 days, including, according to the conditions of the experiment, at least once a day he should have meals in McDonald’s. On completion of the given experiment period the negative health consequences of the hero were recorded in an independent medical institution: an increase in weight by 12kg, obesity, blood sugar, stomach pain, mood swings, impotence etc. According to the authors of the telecast, 50000 USD will be required to undergo a six-month intensive treatment to liquidate the consequences.
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This year McDonald's celebrates the 40th anniversary of its mascot Ronald McDonald. The original McDonald's mascot (from 1940 till 1968) was a man with a chef's hat on top of a hamburger shaped head, named 
WIP sources
