Abstract
"I saw McDonald's restaurants established all over the world", says Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's.
With more than 31,600 restaurants worldwide in 2006, a new establishment opened every five hours, one every day in Europe. More than 500,000 people are employed by McDonald's. A real estate empire valued at over $2 billion, it is the largest in the world. Since its inception in 1955, the multinational brand has continued to expand its chain around the globe, to become the best-known brand after Coca-Cola. It appears as one of the greatest successes of globalization, and the climbing challenge does not seem to affect this multinational company.
McDonald's largest fast food chain is present in all continents. With 30,000 restaurants in 121 countries, McDonald's became the symbol of globalization and the dominance of American culture. A Big Mac is sold every 17 seconds worldwide. In France, 1.2 million customers eat there every day. Its total turnover is made at 75% in its own restaurants and the remaining 25% of sales are made in franchised and affiliated restaurants, representing 18.334 franchisees and 4.269 restaurant affiliates. The group also has food chains in the Boston Market and the Chipotle Mexican Grill, located in the United States, and the chain Pret a Manger based in the United Kingdom.
