What name did McDonald’s use for its fast-service restaurant system developed by the McDonald brothers?

McDonald’s called the fast-service restaurant system developed by the McDonald brothers the Speedee Service System.

Richard and Maurice McDonald developed the system in the 1940s after redesigning their restaurant in San Bernardino, California. It used a limited menu, standardized preparation, and an assembly-line workflow to serve food more quickly and consistently.

The name is connected to Speedee, the early McDonald’s mascot, which is why the two terms are sometimes confused. Speedee was the character; the Speedee Service System was the operating and branding concept behind the restaurant’s early identity.

The system became a foundation for McDonald’s later franchising model. Its emphasis on repeatable procedures helped the company present the same basic service promise across many locations.