McDonald’s started as a barbecue restaurant in 1940 by Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. The brand currently operates the biggest hamburger fast food network around the world. McDonald’s more than 35,000 restaurants serve almost 70 million customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. The brand has always been associated with the United States’ political ties around the world. For example, countries that had poor political relations with the United States did not operate any McDonald’s outlets in them such as Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Vietnam was removed from the list in early 2014 when the first store opened. The country was in war with the United States and their political relationship was in poor shape up until recently. The relationship has taken a positive turn recently and the opening of the first McDonald’s in the country is a good sign for that. On an opposite note, McDonald’s closed down several branches in Crimea after escalating tension between Russia and the United States. In January 2014, McDonald’s posted five straight quarters of disappointing overall sales indicating fiercer competition in and outside the US.

13 Apr 2014