McDonald's was founded in 1954 by Ray Kroc after he saw a potential for standardized fast food restaurants. He revolutionized the industry by imposing discipline on hamburger, fries, and shake production to ensure consistency across locations. McDonald's offers a variety of products like Big Macs, Chicken McNuggets, and Happy Meals. Their creative advertising campaigns and focus on systems and consistency have contributed significantly to McDonald's worldwide success and expansion to many locations globally.