1921: White Castle opens in Wichita, Kansas, pioneering faster, cleaner cooking systems for burgers.
Post-War Changes: After WWII, disposable income increases leading people to view dining out as entertainment.
Key Developments in Fast Food
1948:
Dick and Mac McDonald introduce a speedy service system, offering burgers for 15 cents ($1.60 today).
In-N-Out Burger establishes California’s first drive-thru.
1952: Colonel Sanders opens Kentucky Fried Chicken in Salt Lake City.
1954: Burger King launches in Florida; The Whopper introduced in 1957.
1958: Dan and Frank Carney open the first Pizza Hut in Wichita.
Rise of Fast Food Chains
1950s Car Culture: Drive-ins popularize eating in cars, enhancing fast food's convenience.
1976: Wendy’s opens its 500th restaurant only seven years after launching.
1978: Over 60,000 fast food outlets exist across the U.S.
Standardization and Global Expansion
Chains centralize processing for uniformity, aiding in cost reduction and consistent product offerings.
1990s Globalization: As U.S. markets saturate, fast food chains expand internationally.
Case Study: McDonald’s in Moscow
Post-Soviet Union perestroika allows foreign businesses; McDonald's opens in Moscow.
25,000 people apply for jobs; long queues form for the new cultural experience.
McDonald’s sets up local processing plants to handle supply challenges.
Impact on Local Economies
Fast food chains influence local businesses by increasing demand for large-scale food production.
Conclusion
The fast food industry has transformed from a local convenience to a global phenomenon, impacting both consumer culture and food production practices worldwide.