If there is someone persistent is the protagonistof this story, Raymond Albert Kroc, the visionary businessman who turnedMcDonald’s into the most successful fast food chain in the world. A milkshake machine salesman, tired of getting doors slammed in hisface by poorly-run fast-food joints across the country, receives a striking request that would save his business and this ishow he embarks a trip to California to meet Richard and Maurice McDonald.Amazed by what his eyessaw, Raymond, gets to know every single detail from de McDonald’s idea. In 1950, Dick and Mac foundedthe first restaurant and later on they created an efficient model called Speedee System,which is something Henry Ford wouldhave created if he loved hamburgers more than automobiles. They went from attendingan order in thirty minutes to thirty seconds, focusing on selling burgers andfries. Now a days, we take forgranted these procedures but in the early 1950s they were revolutionary notonly by having the product ready as you order but by introducing the concept ofdisposable containers which reduced the fixed cost of the company.
The brothers bring Ray into their business, showing him how it’s done, not realizing that they’ve invited a snake into their garden. Withbarely concealed dollar signs in his eyes, Ray sweet-talks the brothers intoletting him handle the franchising of their business. However, it’s not long beforethey’re fighting him at every turn, as Ray wrestles the ever-expanding businessfurther andfurther out of their grip and he won´t stop until he succeeds. The founder, is about aproduct that came out from the capitalist machinery, ready to sacrifice moraland ethical values in the pursuit of business success. While the McDonald’sbrothers tried to preserve the essence of their company, Ray prioritized thegains and expansion that ended up turning that local restaurant, in which everydetail was controlled, into a fast and industrialized food empire. Over time, Kroc, managed to have full control of thecompany by putting aside the little ambitious McDonald’s brothers who receiveda monetary compensation in exchange for the well-known name, McDonald´s.
Todaythis fast food chain caters about 68 million people a day, in more than 36,000establishments, in 119 territories and countries in the world and is one of thelargest real estate holders on the planet.
