The Big Mac, created by franchisee Jim Delligatti, was introduced nationally by McDonald's in 1968. It became one of the company's signature branded products.
Delligatti operated McDonald's restaurants in the Pittsburgh area and developed the sandwich to offer a larger, more substantial menu choice. The Big Mac used two beef patties, a middle bun section, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and sauce.
The sandwich had been tested regionally before its nationwide rollout. Its distinctive three-part bun and specially marketed sauce helped make it more than a standard hamburger; the product itself became an enduring part of McDonald's brand identity.
The Big Mac is sometimes dated to 1967 because regional sales began before the national introduction. The key national branding milestone is 1968, when McDonald's made the sandwich available throughout the United States.