Ray Kroc and the McDonald's Empire

Probably one of the most recognized names in the world today, McDonald's started off with a amazing concept but a small vision. Richard and Maurice McDonald's launched their first Mcdonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California in 1948. They introduced the "Speedee Service System", the idea that established the modern-day fast-food restaurants.
Ray Kroc was a multi-mixer salesman when he first walked into a McDonald's to deliver an order they had made. He was amazed by what he saw and later presented his vision of expansion to the McDonald's brother's. After limited success with the brothers, who were happy with the handful of restaurants, Ray Kroc arranged for an acquisition of the company. After the purchase Kroc had the freedom to expand. His first footsteps in creating the Mcdonald's empire was to enforce his view of "Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value" throughout the company.

“If I had a brick for every time I've repeated the phrase Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value, I think I’d probably be able to bridge the Atlantic Ocean with them.” —Ray Kroc, McDonald's.com

He also used a unique philosophy to implement a unique strategy in the industry. Kroc encouraged his franchisees and suppliers to maintain the same quality methods of preparation to provide the same tasting foods everywhere. He used the slogan “In business for yourself, but not by yourself,” to achieve this mission. In following this strategy Ray implemented an assembly line into the restaurants industry. Ray held these principles high until the day of his death and in doing so contributed greatly to the tremendous success of McDonald's. His vision is still carried out in every one of the over 31,000 McDonald's restaurants worldwide.