Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac in 1967, giving McDonald’s one of its most famous branded products.
Delligatti was a McDonald’s franchisee in the Pittsburgh area. He developed the sandwich by using two beef patties, a middle layer of bread, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and the company’s special sauce. The larger construction was intended to appeal to customers seeking a more substantial hamburger.
The sandwich was first sold at Delligatti’s Uniontown, Pennsylvania, restaurant and then introduced more widely. Its name and distinctive structure made it more than an ordinary menu item: the Big Mac became a major part of McDonald’s product branding and later one of the best-known fast-food sandwiches in the world.
A common mistake is to credit Ray Kroc, McDonald’s corporate leader, with inventing it. Kroc helped expand the chain, but Delligatti created the sandwich. The Big Mac’s signature middle bun is called a club layer.