What corporate name did McDonald’s adopt in 1960, replacing McDonald’s System, Inc.?

McDonald’s adopted the name McDonald’s Corporation in 1960, replacing McDonald’s System, Inc.

The change reflected the company’s growth beyond the original restaurant operation and its expanding franchise system. Ray Kroc had joined the McDonald brothers’ business as a franchise agent in 1954 and built a much larger organization around standardized restaurants, branding, and operations.

The corporate name is sometimes confused with the McDonald brothers’ original business names. Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their first restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940, and later developed the Speedee Service System. Kroc’s company eventually became the dominant McDonald’s organization, while the brothers’ original restaurant history remained part of the brand story.

The corporation’s identity later became globally recognizable through the Golden Arches, the red-and-yellow color scheme, advertising characters, and consistent packaging. McDonald’s Corporation remains the formal corporate name associated with the restaurant chain.