Almost 35,000 restaurants. In 119 countries. Serving 60 million guests every day.
Yes, we’re talking about McDonald’s.
Somewhat amazingly the world’s biggest restaurant chain is still finding new ways to expand. With 14,000 restaurants in the U.S., McDonald’s Corp. has reached near-saturation status domestically, thus the vast majority of its growth is in emerging international markets.
Being widely recognized as a U.S. chain, McDonald’s faces more challenges in those regions where America has not yet shed its reputation as ‘arrogant imperialist.’ Be it for political, religious or social reasons, disdain for the Land of Liberty remains high, and the intrusion of American culture is often frowned upon.
But somehow McDonald’s is managing to overcome the negative stereotypes associated with its native land and, for the most part, has been highly successful in its foreign markets. Why? Because the only American values McDonald’s suggests are convenience and thrift – two things that just about every global citizen holds dear.