5 truly absurd curiosities that practically no one knows about McDonald’s, the global fast food icon.
McDonald’s a global icon, recognized everywhere for its golden arches and its famous menus, but there are aspects of this chain that remain unknown to most. One of the lesser-known curiosities concerns the origin of the Filet-O-Fish, introduced in the 1960s to appeal to Catholic customers who avoided meat on Fridays. Lou Groen, a franchisee in Cincinnati, introduced the fish sandwich to address the problem of declining sales during Lent, an idea that proved extremely effective and led to a significant increase in profits.
Another little known fact is that the first official McDonald’s mascot was not Ronald McDonald but Speedee, a chef with a hamburger-shaped head who represented the speed of service. This character was later replaced by Ronald McDonald in the 1960s, solidifying the image of the cheerful and friendly clown we know today.
Also, a surprising aspect is that McDonald’s has one of the largest toy collections in the world thanks to Happy Meal. By introducing the concept of a children’s meal accompanied by a toy, the company was able to attract millions of young customers, creating strong loyalty from an early age. This marketing strategy proved so successful that today the company distributes over a billion toys each year, surpassing any other toy manufacturer in the world.
McDonald’s in India, the largest collection of games in the world and other curiosities
Another curiosity concerns the fact that McDonald’s is also one of the largest buyers of carne beef, chicken, potatoes, and lettuce. The scale of its operations requires immense supplies, influencing entire agricultural sectors and determining market trends on a global scale. This purchasing power allows McDonald’s to negotiate extremely competitive prices, keeping production costs relatively low and ensuring significant profit margins.
Finally, an aspect that few people know is that the catena has experimented with a variety of very different menus depending on local cultures, adapting flexibly to the tastes and food traditions of different countries. For example, in India, where many people do not eat beef for religious reasons, McDonald’s has created the Maharaja Mac, a chicken or vegetable sandwich, and offers a wide range of vegetarian dishes that are not found in other parts of the world. This ability to adapt culturally is one of the main reasons for the company’s global success, which manages to maintain its identity while respecting local specificities.
