Who created the Big Mac in 1967, later making it a major McDonald’s brand icon?

Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac in 1967, later making it a major McDonald’s brand icon.

Delligatti was a McDonald’s franchisee in the Pittsburgh area who developed the larger sandwich to compete with other oversized hamburgers. The Big Mac used two beef patties, a middle bun section, cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and the sauce that became closely associated with the product.

The sandwich was tested regionally before McDonald’s introduced it nationally in 1968. Its name, layered construction, and distinctive advertising gave the product an identity that extended beyond the ordinary menu. The Big Mac eventually became one of the most recognizable items in fast-food branding.

A common error is crediting Ray Kroc, the company’s expansion leader, with inventing the sandwich. Kroc helped build McDonald’s into a national and international chain, but Delligatti was the franchisee who created the Big Mac.