Fast Food: Where It All Began

The largest fast food chains are global franchises, with multiple restaurants in most towns yet alone in each country. We decided to take them back to basics however by looking at the origins of the fast food giants. We have mapped out the first ever restaurants of your favourite fast food chains and told the story of how they were created. We also did some research and uncovered some interesting facts about the fast food giants so explore our map and unearth the surprises that are waiting for you. 

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Alternatively, you can view our infographic.

The Origins Of The Most Popular Fast Food Restaurants

McDonald’s

First up on our list, we have McDonald’s. It started in 1940 when two brothers called Richard and Maurice McDonald opened up a drive-in barbecue restaurant. The brothers, Dick and Mac, had a food stand called the ‘Airdrome’ before where they sold hot dogs but they expanded their menu and McDonalds Bar-B-Q was born in 1940. They played with the menu several times during their early days but in October 1948 they streamlined the menu into a fast food concept and changed the name to just McDonalds. In 2016 a film was released about the origins of McDonalds and how Ray Kroc built the restaurant into the global franchise we know today. The origins however starts off with two brothers in San Bernardino, California.

Subway

Subway may not be thought of as a global fast food chain, it is often underrated, but they have almost 45,000 restaurants today around the world. Not bad to say the sandwich shop started as a side project to fund Fred DeLuca’s education.

KFC

Harland Sanders had many jobs in his lifetime but when he bought a service station in 1930 and started selling fried chicken to hungry drivers, he found his calling. KFC have over 20,000 restaurants today and are the most popular chicken joint around the world.

Dunkin’ Donuts

When William Rosenberg served food in factories and to construction site, he discovered people had a real taste for donuts and coffee. Fast forward almost 70 years and Dunkin’ Donuts is a popular global franchise.

Wendy’s

Dave Thomas had two major loves; his family and food. He combined the two in 1969 and Wendy’s was born. A family-friendly restaurant that uses fresh ingredients, serves fast food and excels in customer service; his ambition has led to numerous restaurants around the world. If you take a look at our map you may be surprised to discover who Dave partnered with before the birth of Wendy’s.

Pizza Hut

After watching the success of McDonald’s and KFC, Dan Carney, who had an interest in franchising from studying his business degree, alongside his brother decided to open a pizzeria called Pizza Hut.

Wimpy

Wimpy had the ability to be one of the largest fast food chains around the world. Edward Gold took America by storm with his Wimpy Grills restaurant in 1934 and 20 years later he had sold a license to J.Lyons to franchise the restaurant in the UK before taking it global. Unfortunately, America’s version of Wimpy died with Gold in 1977 and the UK’s restaurants are in fast decline. Wimpy still has a popular presence in South Africa but their early success is now a thing of the past.

Nando’s

One of the few big chains to start outside of America, Nando’s originated in Johannesburg in 1987. There was a chicken restaurant in Rosettenville called Chickenland and when Fernando Duarte took his friend there for dinner; they decided they like the piri-piri chicken so much they needed to buy the business. From here, Nando’s was born and the rest was history.

Five Guys

What do you do if your mum tells you to ‘start a business or go to college’? You set up a global fast food franchise. Five Guys only opened in 1986 but their ‘peanut oil’ fries and customisable burgers have proved a big hit around the world.

Starbucks

Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker opened a coffee shop in Pike Place market in Seattle in 1971, selling coffee made from the highest quality beans. When Howard Schultz joined in 1982 he helped them move from a coffee shop to a coffee bar/cafe and well the rest is history. Starbucks now have over 23,000 restaurants around the world are one of the most popular go to coffee makers.

You can see the full version of the map here. If you want to share the map or use any of our information, please include attribution to us – UK household appliance manufacturer, CDA.

How do you cook? Six cooking styles you might recognise

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Everyone is different when it comes to food. Some people like spicy food, some people have a sweet tooth and others may be more prone to a traditional roast dinner. With different food tastes comes different kitchen styles. Some people like to spend hours in the kitchen cooking up a treat while others might go for the quick and convenient option. We’ve put together some characters that describe the different styles of cooking we see everyday in our kitchens.

This is a light-hearted look at the different cooking styles so please don’t take any offence from our characters. The next time you are in the kitchen however have a look and see if any seem familiar. 

Hot Head

The Hot Head character is the confident cook who knows what they’re doing. They cook a mean spag bol but that’s not without a lot of blood, sweat and tears. The hot head is someone who likes to be in control, yet gets stressed very easily. The air might be a little blue and it’s probably best to avoid the kitchen at all costs when this chef is cooking, but you’ll get a pretty good meal at the end of it.

Outside of the kitchen the Hot Head tends to be hardworking and competitive. They are motivated individuals who are confident and blunt – they are not afraid to get their opinions heard. They tend to have a strong, extrovert personality with a sarcastic humour. They also tend to be quite charming and loyal.

Kale Queen

The Kale Queen is the healthiest of eaters. They love throwing the most random ingredients in a smoothie maker and cooking up some healthy deliciousness with the freshest ingredients from the local food market.

Outside of the kitchen the Kale Queen loves being active and spending time outdoors. They love yoga, going to the gym and hiking through picturesque green surroundings. They are often a calm and peaceful individual, the complete opposite to the Hot Head. You will often find the Kale Queen proudly instagramming her dinners or unwinding with an adult colouring book.

King of the Grill

The King of the Grill is exactly that; he is obsessed with the barbecue and won’t hesitate to get it out come rain or shine – that is what umbrellas are for right? Normally this guy wouldn’t cook but any excuse for a beer and a burger and the grill comes out. You will often find him wearing a cheesy apron that his wife or children bought him for one of the holidays – which they celebrated of course with a barbecue.

The King of the Grill likes to spend his spare time doing odd jobs around the home. He is very house proud and enjoys DIY projects.

Bake Off Wannabe

The Bake Off Wannabe dreams of being a domestic goddess but unfortunately her kitchen attempts often end in disaster. The Bake Off Wannabe watches all the cooking shows, spends hours of each day scrolling down Pinterest looking at amazing cakes and she owns all the kitchen gadgets. Unfortunately, her creations never quite look the way they should and she either sets the smoke alarm off or resorts to packet mixes.

The Bake Off Wannabe is optimistic and creative. She loves spending time with her family and is really friendly. She is a great person to be around – except maybe when she’s cooking.

Recipe Purist

The Recipe Purist is methodical and loves to-do lists and recipe books. Every meal they prepare comes out exactly as planned because they never stray from the instructions. The Recipe Purist eats quite healthy, they make sure they have all the recommended food groups on one plate and in the correct portion size.  

The recipe purist maintains a controlled approach outside of the kitchen. They rely on lists and sticky notes to guide them through their day. You can imagine what their fridge looks like, everything neatly aligned and compartmentalised. They are always on time and they are super organised. They have the cleanest of homes, which can be intimidating if you go around for dinner – just make sure you are careful of your crumbs.

Taste Bud Tester

The Taste Bud Tester is the most dangerous of all cooks. They won’t set your smoke alarm off but they will set your mouth on fire. The Taste Bud Tester loves spicy foods and they use their creative nature to experiment with a full range of herbs, spices and chillies. Their cooking motto is the hotter the better so you need to be feeling very brave to sit at their dining table.

Outside of the kitchen the Taste Bud Tester is adventurous and outgoing. They love trying new things and being experimental. They love to travel and try new foods. Extreme sports are exhilarating to them so be careful if you suggest skydiving, bungee jumping or rock climbing – they will almost always be game.