Who created the Filet-O-Fish for McDonald's in Cincinnati in 1962?

Lou Groen created the Filet-O-Fish for McDonald's in Cincinnati in 1962.

Groen was a McDonald's franchisee whose restaurant served a neighborhood with many Catholic customers. Because meatless Fridays were especially important during Lent, hamburger sales declined sharply on those days. Groen responded by developing a fish sandwich that could appeal to customers observing that practice.

Ray Kroc initially preferred a different meatless product, the Hula Burger, which used a grilled pineapple slice. The two sandwiches were tested, and the Filet-O-Fish sold better. McDonald's subsequently added it to the national menu in 1963, making Groen's local innovation part of the chain's broader product branding.

The creation story is sometimes attributed to Kroc because he led McDonald's expansion, but he did not invent the sandwich. Jim Delligatti, another franchisee, is associated with the Big Mac instead. These separate franchisee inventions show how McDonald's menu branding developed through experimentation at individual restaurants.