Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac for McDonald’s at his Uniontown, Pennsylvania, franchise in 1967.
Delligatti was one of McDonald’s earliest franchisees and experimented with a larger hamburger featuring two beef patties, a middle bun, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and special sauce. The sandwich was designed to compete with larger hamburgers sold by rival restaurants.
McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac nationally in 1968, after the local test. The product’s name and layered construction made it an important part of the company’s product branding, not merely another menu entry. Its distinctive name also became one of McDonald’s most recognizable food trademarks.
A common mix-up is the launch date: 1967 refers to Delligatti’s original local development and sale, while 1968 marks the national introduction. Delligatti’s role also illustrates how franchisees sometimes influenced the wider McDonald’s menu.