There are quite a few facts that even the most devoted fast-food customers might not know.
The first Big Mac sold for 45 cents and was named by a 21-year-old secretary.
In-N-Out's "animal style" burger was officially created as a response to customer requests.
The first McDonald's logo was based on the original roof design of its restaurants, but it still emphasized the letter "M."
The original design featured red, yellow, and blue. Today, the McDonald's logo is much simpler and features a yellow-gold "M" on a red background. However, the golden arches still represent the McDonald's brand.
When McDonald's first opened, its signs also featured the chain's mascot, Speedee.
Speedee, a chef with a hamburger for a head, appeared on the signs alongside the brand's original logo of two interlocking golden arches.
Some signs also advertised the low price of McDonald's hamburgers — just 15 cents.
Ronald McDonald was almost a cowboy or spaceman, rather than a clown, but those ideas were quickly thrown out.
Ronald McDonald was introduced in 1963 during an advertisement for the restaurant in the Washington, DC, area.
In the ad, Ronald McDonald pulled hamburgers out of his belt and had a McDonald's cup for a nose. His hat was a tray with a Styrofoam hamburger, fries, and a milkshake on top of it. His signature costume later included a red-and-white striped shirt, yellow jumpsuit, and red hair.
In 2014, McDonald's announced that the brand would be revamping Ronald's look. He would now wear a red-and-white striped rugby shirt, yellow cargo pants, and a vest or jacket instead of the signature jumpsuit.
Despite Ronald McDonald being featured less frequently in McDonald's advertising nowadays, the chain has yet to officially retire the character.
The first Big Mac sold for 45 cents.
The first Big Mac-esque sandwich was created by owner and operator Jim Delligatti of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1967, but it wouldn't be released nationwide until 1968.
It included two beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame-seed bun.
Esther Glickstein Rose, a 21-year-old secretary for the company's advertising department in 1967, came up with the famous burger's name.
According to theAssociated Press, executives and other employees at the time laughed at her suggestion of "Big Mac." However, it stuck and went on to become "one of the best-known product names of all time."
It wasn't until 1985 that McDonald's Corp. finally recognized Rose had come up with the name.
McDonald's chicken nuggets come in four shapes: the bell, the ball, the boot, and the bow tie (also called the bone).
The shapes are all the same width and they are "pressed out with a rolling cookie cutter." The shapes of the chain's chicken nuggets are standardized in order to ensure even cooking timesfor food safety in all McDonald's restaurants.
In-N-Out is credited as the first chain to have a two-way speaker system for drive-thru orders.
In-N-Out founder Harry Snyder invented the two-way speaker system from his own garage in 1948. The innovation allowed customers the convenience of not having to leave their cars or speak to an employee face-to-face in order to place their orders.
In-N-Out's now-iconic animal-style burgers were prepared in response to customers' requests.
The recipe is still the same today as it was in the 1960s: a mustard-cooked beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions.
You might know Taco Bell for its large menu, but when the chain opened in 1962, it offered just five items.
The first Taco Bell restaurant opened in Downey, California. Each item cost just 19 cents, and the menu featured traditional Mexican favorites like frijoles, tostadas, burritos, and tacos, plus chili burgers.
Two years later, the chain's first franchise opened in Torrance, California.
When the first value menu launched, Taco Bell priced a taco at just 39 cents.
However, according to a New York Times article from 1990, then-Taco Bell CEO John Martin said the chain's "transactions went through the roof, but profitability went through the floor."
The price of a taco was then raised to 49 cents. A summer 1994 commercial still touted that customers could order a taco for 49 cents, a Supreme taco for 79 cents, and Big Beef taco for 99 cents.
You can still order from Taco Bell's value menu, but it only has eight items. Four menu items cost $1, three cost $2, and a combo costs $5.
Before Chick-fil-A began using a cow as its mascot, the chain was represented by — perhaps unsurprisingly — a chicken.
The chain's tagline used to read, "The best thing that ever happened to a chicken." Now, Chick-fil-A's slogan pays homage to its most famous menu item: its chicken sandwich.
According to The Chicken Wire, the "A" in Chick-fil-A comes from both a play on the word "filet" and a nod to the "grade-A top quality chicken" used in Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwiches.
However, the chain also still uses cows and the words "Eat Mor Chikin" to bring customers through its doors.
Chick-fil-A's original chicken sandwich was unlike anything else on the market when founder S. Truett Cathy created the recipe in 1964.
The sandwich featured a fried-chicken boneless breast between two buttered buns and topped with two pickles. According to a previous article by Business Insider, there was nothing like it on any other fast-food menu at the time.
Though the sandwich soon shot to popularity at the Dwarf House, Cathy's first restaurant before Chick-fil-A, the invention was odd compared to other fast-food offerings and food tastes of the time.
According to The Chicken Wire, the USDA reported that in 1961, the average American ate an average of 50 pounds of beef per person annually. However, Cathy's bet on chicken would soon pay off.
Though Chick-fil-A has expanded immensely since the launch of its chicken sandwich, the recipe has remained virtually the same.
Chicken nuggets weren't added to the Chick-fil-A menu until 1982.
The first Chick-fil-A nuggets came in a six-count box, inspired by customers asking restaurant employees to cut up pieces of its signature chicken sandwich so that they could eat it by hand or serve the bite-sized nuggets at parties.
"We are still serving the same delicious nuggets today that we started with," Shona Jonson, senior manager of culinary, product strategy, and development at Chick-fil-A, once said, according to The Chicken Wire.
There's a luau-themed Chick-fil-A in Fayetteville, Georgia, that features Hawaiian-inspired menu items.
The menu features unique items touted as "Hawaiian favorites with a Southern spin," like pineapple chicken tacos, a Luau Burger (a bacon cheeseburger with a pineapple disk on top), and "tropical nuggets," which are the chain's chicken nuggets doused in sweet tropical sauce.
According toChick-fil-A's website, company founder S. Truett Cathy wanted to "bring Hawaii to Fayetteville, Georgia" after visiting the state. The restaurant opened in 2013, and it has recently attracted the attention of Chick-fil-A fans on TikTok. However, according to reporting by Insider's Rachel Askinasi, experts say the food is a far cry from traditional Hawaiian food.
"It's about as Hawaiian as Elvis Presley holding a ukulele singing in 'Blue Hawaii'," Chef Sheldon Simeon, the owner of Tin Roof in Maui, told Insider.
When the first Burger King restaurant opened in 1953, it was called Insta-Burger King.
Founded in Jacksonville, Florida, by Keith Kramer and Matthew Burns, the company was taken over in 1954 by David Edgerton and James McLamore. They decided to expand the chain's locations.
Burger King was the first fast-food restaurant chain to offer dining rooms.
When Burger King added its plastic-furnished eating areas in the 1950s, its drive-thru windows were gradually phased out. However, in 1975, the drive-thru windows were reintroduced.
Burger King introduced its own version of an internet cafe in the late 1990s.
One Burger King restaurant, located on Broadway in New York City, allowed customers to surf the web on one of its 20 PC computers if they purchased a meal.
Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal is a major Five Guys fan — at one point, he owned 155 Five Guys restaurants.
That was equivalent to 10% of the company's restaurants. The NBA star told CNBC in 2018 that he had sold his stake a few years earlier, saying the burger business had been "very good" to him.
Read the original article on Insider
FAQs
18 facts about your favorite fast-food chains that might surprise you? ›
Fast food contains loads of fat and calories which can lead to obesity and heart problems. A double quarter pounder meal with a coke contains nearly 1800 calories. Considering the average person needs 2000 calories daily, this means that one meal has nearly filled the needed calories for the day.
What are some fun facts about fast food? ›- McDonald's is the world's largest toy distributor. ...
- There are almost 38 million Subway combos to choose from. ...
- KFC is the traditional Christmas Eve dinner in Japan. ...
- Domino's once offered free sandwiches to Jareds of the world. ...
- The Cinnabon Classic contains an insane 890 calories.
Fast food contains loads of fat and calories which can lead to obesity and heart problems. A double quarter pounder meal with a coke contains nearly 1800 calories. Considering the average person needs 2000 calories daily, this means that one meal has nearly filled the needed calories for the day.
What is your favorite fast food chain answer? ›McDonald's is my favorite fast food restaurant because it has everything I love. Their food is my favorite, the service is good and they have charities, which is very important. McDonald's has a lot of combos, which have a hamburger, french fries and a soda.
What are five reasons we eat fast food? ›- They're quick: 92.3%
- They're easy to get to: 80.1%
- I like the taste of fast food: 69.2%
- They're inexpensive: 63.6%
- I'm too busy to cook: 53.2%
- It's a "treat" for myself: 50.1%
What are the health risks of eating fast food? Fast food is often high in calories, fat, and sugar but low in nutrients and fiber. While eating fast food occasionally isn't a problem, consuming it frequently may raise your risk of obesity, heart attack, and other health issues.
What is the fact about eating fast food is not bad if you only eat it once a week? ›Yes, you must eat fast food at least once a week, and no, you don't have to completely give up junk food. Eating fast food once a week ensures that you are able to give your body what it needs without harming it, and it also helps in boosting metabolism by making your body burn more calories.
What are 3 facts about McDonald's? ›- A New McDonald's Opens Every 14.5 Hours. ...
- The Caesar Salad is More Fattening than their Hamburger. ...
- More People Eat at McDonald's Each Day than the Entire Population of the UK. ...
- They Are the World's Largest Toy Distributor. ...
- The McDonald's Arch is More Recognizable than the Holy Cross.
Such risks include obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and various cardiovascular conditions. This is because most fast food is high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, trans fats, processed ingredients, and calories. It is also generally low in antioxidants, fiber, and many other nutrients.
What fast food is the most eaten? ›Most popular fast food companies
McDonald's is by far the most popular fast food chain in the United States. It has about 13,500 locations in the U.S., 40,000 worldwide, and it operates in 118 countries. McDonald's serves 69 million people every day, more than the population of Thailand and the United Kingdom.
What is the number 1 biggest fast food chain? ›
McDonald's Corporation is the largest fast-food chain. As of 2022, Starbucks is the largest restaurant company by revenue, with 35,000 stores globally.
Which fast food chain is #1 in customer satisfaction? ›| First Hidden Column | Company | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KFC (Yum! Brands) | 79 |
| 1 | Chipotle | 77 |
| 1 | Panera Bread | 78 |
| 1 | Pizza Hut (Yum! Brands) | 78 |
The upbeat atmosphere and warm and friendly service contribute significantly to the wholesomeness of why is McDonald's popular. A very western fast food concept has been crafted to please the palate of the Indian audience. It is almost like a burger revolution with a desi appeal.
What are 4 things in a food chain? ›Organisms in food chains are grouped into categories called trophic levels. Roughly speaking, these levels are divided into producers (first trophic level), consumers (second, third, and fourth trophic levels), and decomposers.
What is #1 on the food chain? ›Trophic Levels: The trophic level of an organism is the position it holds in a food chain. 1. Primary producers (organisms that make their own food from sunlight and/or chemical energy from deep sea vents) are the base of every food chain - these organisms are called autotrophs.
What are 15 interesting facts? ›- Hot water will turn into ice faster than cold water. ...
- The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. ...
- The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue. ...
- Ants take rest for around 8 Minutes in 12-hour period. ...
- "I Am" is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
- It is impossible for most people to lick their own elbow. ...
- A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
- A shrimp's heart is in its head.
- It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.
- Taste, texture, and appearance. ...
- Economics. ...
- Early food experiences. ...
- Habits. ...
- Culture. ...
- Geography. ...
- Advertising. ...
- Social factors.
Long-term effects of eating junk food
Eating a poor quality diet high in junk food is linked to a higher risk of obesity, depression, digestive issues, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and early death.
With the rise in technology, people don't have as much time to cook as they used to. Fast food restaurants provide an affordable and convenient option for those too busy or too lazy to make their meals. Fast food establishments also give people jobs and opportunities for advancement.
Is pizza a junk food? ›
Pizza is not only delicious but can also be a healthy meal choice when thought is put into its preparation. Though many frozen and fast-food varieties tend to be high in calories, fat, sodium and other unhealthy ingredients, pizza can be made healthier.
What is the healthiest fast food restaurant? ›- Chipotle. Chipotle Mexican Grill is a restaurant chain that specializes in foods like tacos and burritos. ...
- Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A is a fast-food restaurant that specializes in chicken sandwiches. ...
- Wendy's. ...
- McDonald's. ...
- Ruby Tuesday. ...
- The Cheesecake Factory. ...
- KFC. ...
- Subway.
Eating KFC Regularly Makes You fat
The dishes of KFC are mostly deep-fried and are made using tons of oil. So, the regular consumption of KFC can make you gain weight. Therefore, continuous consumption of fast food, chicken, and meat that too with excess oil can lead to heart and fat-related issues.
“Processed foods are mainly salt, sugar, fat and preservatives — all of which create a combination of different sensations in your mouth. Your brain is involved as well. Foods that rapidly vanish or 'melt in your mouth' signal to your brain that you're not eating as much as you actually are.
Is it OK to eat junk food twice a week? ›While eating fast food once a week will not pose any harm in the short run, once you start regularly indulging in cheat meals, all these ingredients can come back to haunt your body. Therefore eat smaller portions to reduce the intake of these hazardous ingredients and to keep your body safe and healthy.
How many eggs does McDonald's use each year? ›By 2025, they have made a commitment to transition to entirely cage-free eggs in all of their US and Canadian restaurants. They use roughly 2 billion eggs per year in these stores so that is no small feat!
What is special about Wendy's? ›The chain is known for its square hamburger patties served on circular buns, sea salt fries, and the Frosty, a form of soft-serve ice cream mixed with starches. Wendy's menu consists primarily of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, French fries, and beverages such as the Frosty.
What does McDonald's sell the most of? ›Ever since the first McDonald's menu from when the chained opened in the 1950s, french fries have been a star. The famous Golden Arches sell upward of 9 million pounds of fries per day!
Is pasta a junk food? ›Pasta is high in carbs, which can be bad for you when consumed in large amounts. It also contains gluten, a type of protein that causes issues for those who are gluten-sensitive. On the other hand, pasta can provide some nutrients that are important to health.
What are five of the most unhealthy fast food options? ›- McDonald's Big Breakfast With Hotcakes.
- Chick-fil-A's Hash Brown Scramble Burrito With Sausage.
- Burger King's Double Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit.
- Burger King's Egg-Normous Burrito.
- Taco Bell's Breakfast Crunchwrap With Sausage.
- Whataburger's Pancake Platter With Sausage.
What foods are unhealthy? ›
- Foods with added sugar. Examples: Cookies, cake, ice cream, candy, sugary breakfast cereals, flavored yogurt. ...
- Foods with added salt. Examples: Chips, pretzels, breads, crackers, canned soup, processed snack foods. ...
- Refined carbohydrates. ...
- Processed meats.
This shouldn't be much of a surprise, the United States is the biggest fast-food consumer in the world.
What is the 2 most popular fast-food restaurant? ›| rank | company | 2018 us systemwide sales millions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McDonald's | 38,524.05 |
| 2 | Starbucks* | 19,700.00 |
| 3 | Subway* | 10,410.34 |
| 4 | Taco Bell | 10,300.00 |
He admits some of his favorite foods are cheeseburgers, and in an interview with The Telegraph, Joe Cerrell revealed that if you were having lunch with Bill, it would be hamburgers. The billionaire especially enjoys fast food burgers from In-N-Out or McDonald's and diet coca-cola.
What is the richest fast food chain? ›Most valuable QSR brands worldwide 2021
In that year, the brand value of Starbucks amounted to approximately 60.3 billion U.S. dollars. McDonald's was the most valuable fast food brand in the world with an estimated brand value of about 154.9 billion U.S. dollars.
| Country of origin | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | McDonald's |
| 2 | United States | Subway |
| 3 | United States | Starbucks |
| 4 | United States | KFC |
It was during this period that Allen and Wright came up with the name A&W, an anagram of their initials. Allen and Wright started selling A&W franchises in 1925 as their business flourished and as a result, A&W may claim to be the longest-running fast food franchise in the world.
Which fast food chain is the slowest? ›According to industry publication QSR magazine's Drive-thru Report, Chick-fil-A has the slowest drive-thru time of 10 popular restaurants, at 325 seconds, or about 5 1/2 minutes, on average.
What food chain sells the most food? ›The largest fast food chain in the US is McDonald's, with a revenue of $23.18 billion and a market share of 43.8%. As of 2021, the US fast food industry has a market size of $366.9 billion. 36.6% of Americans consume fast food every day.
What is the most popular fast food chain most locations? ›Subway is the largest and the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the world with 42,998 restaurants in 112 countries and territories. Subway fast-food restaurant in the US alone has about 25,549 outlets.
What are 3 reasons McDonald's is successful? ›
McDonald's success today is largely attributed to its franchising model, consistency, and innovation. Through their franchising model, they were able to enjoy rapid growth.
Why is McDonald's junk food? ›McDonald's promote their food as 'nutritious', but the reality is that it is processed junk food - high in fat, sugar and salt, and low in fibre and vitamins. A diet of this type is linked with a greater risk of heart disease, cancer,diabetes and other diseases.
What are some fun facts about McDonald's? ›- A New McDonald's Opens Every 14.5 Hours. ...
- The Caesar Salad is More Fattening than their Hamburger. ...
- More People Eat at McDonald's Each Day than the Entire Population of the UK. ...
- They Are the World's Largest Toy Distributor. ...
- The McDonald's Arch is More Recognizable than the Holy Cross.
McDonald's is by far the most popular fast food chain in the United States. It has about 13,500 locations in the U.S., 40,000 worldwide, and it operates in 118 countries.
What was the first fast food? ›Most historians agree that the American company White Castle was the first fast-food outlet, starting in Wichita, Kansas in 1916 with food stands and founding in 1921, selling hamburgers for five cents apiece from its inception and spawning numerous competitors and emulators.
What is fast food history facts? ›Fast food has been around since Ancient Rome. It originated as street vendors sold food primarily to those who didn't have kitchens. In modern times, the notion of fast food was popularized by White Castle, who introduced the world to the fast food burger and the drive-thru.
What are some fun facts about the first McDonald's? ›It started as a BBQ restaurant
Seventy-five years ago, in 1940, brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened up the first McDonald's restaurant—a BBQ joint—in San Bernardino, California (it's now a museum). Eight years later, they switched to burgers, shakes, potato chips, and pie.
| rank | company | 2018 us systemwide sales millions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McDonald's | 38,524.05 |
| 2 | Starbucks* | 19,700.00 |
| 3 | Subway* | 10,410.34 |
| 4 | Taco Bell | 10,300.00 |
Italian pizza is probably the most famous food in the World. Pizza has crossed the borders of Italy a long time ago and nowadays it is consumed all over the world.
What is the oldest fast food chain in Canada? ›Introducing Fast Food to Canada
A&W was Canada's first hamburger quick service restaurant and remains one of its best known. The company began operations in Winnipeg, opening its first freestanding drive-in restaurant in 1956.
Who is the largest fast food chain? ›
McDonald's Corporation is the largest fast-food chain.
Why is it called fast food? ›When it comes to fast food, speed is important, as is obvious from the name, which was coined around 1950. People who eat fast food want something that's tasty, cheap, and fast. Fast food restaurants are known for exactly those things.
Why is fast food addictive? ›Eating junk food causes a release of dopamine in the brain. This reward encourages susceptible individuals to eat more unhealthy foods.
What makes fast food unhealthy? ›Fast food is typically loaded with calories, sodium, and unhealthy fat—often enough in one meal for an entire day. It also tends to be low in nutrients and almost totally lacking in fruit, vegetables, and fiber.