E
THE BET THAT SPAWNED THE FILET-O-FISH SANDWICH
SU
Inside the McDonald’s History Books
Winters have long been brutal to mankind, often marking the start of a deadly stretch for many civilizations, but fire and ancient heating systems allowed humans to thrive in cold conditions and climates. Despite those advances, humans still struggled with cooling down warm air. In 1902, Willis Carrier invented air conditioning as a way to control the humidity problem at a New York-based printing press. His invention would eventually revolutionize the way we eat, play, and even shave. Movie Theaters and Entertainment Before air conditioning, theaters closed down for the summer because no one would THREE INDUSTRIES REVOLUTIONIZED BY AIR CONDITIONING Every day, 68 million people dine under the iconic golden arches of McDonald’s. If you’re one of them, then you’re probably intimately familiar with one of the most famous offerings on the menu after the McRib and the Big Mac: the Filet-O-Fish sandwich. This bestselling entree looks simple enough. It features a fried square of wild-caught fish nestled under a slice of American cheese and a smear of tartar sauce. But it has a contentious history. In fact, Ray Kroc, the owner of McDonald’s who was immortalized in the 2016 movie “The Founder,” didn’t want the fishy offering on the menu. It ended up there anyway for one of the oldest reasons in the world: Kroc lost a bet. The story starts back in 1962 in Cincinnati, Ohio. That year, an enterprising McDonald's franchisee named Lou Groen had a problem. His customer base was
largely Catholic and abstained from eating meat on Fridays (not to mention during Lent!), and they weren’t buying enough burgers to keep his restaurant afloat. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, on Fridays Groen pulled in just $75 per day. To combat that lack of sales, he masterminded a beef-free option, and the Filet-O-Fish sandwich was born. The problem came when Groen pitched the entree to Ray Kroc. The founder didn't approve. In a 2006 interview with Business Courier, Groen recalled Kroc’s reaction: “You’re always coming up here with a bunch of crap!” he said. “I don’t want my stores stunk up with the smell of fish.” But at the end of the day, Kroc’s motivation was profit. So the two men made a bet. On Good Friday in 1962, select McDonald's would put both the Filet-O-Fish and a different meatless option, the pineapple-centric Hula
Burger, on their menus. The entree that sold the best would stick around. Since you’ve probably dined on a Filet-O- Fish and never heard of Hula Burger, you can guess what happened. Groen sold 350 Filet-O-
Fish sandwiches. And Kroc? Well, he moved just six Hula Burgers. Fishy smell or not, the filet was there to stay.
Want to read up on more fast-food capers? Pick up the book “Drive- Thru Dreams: A Journey Through the Heart of America's Fast-Food Kingdom” by Adam Chandler. His KFC stories will blow your mind.
pay money to sweat it out like a sardine packed inside a humid building. In the early 20th century, movie theaters began adding the industrial-sized machines to their buildings to pump cool air into their cinemas. Consumers would buy a ticket just to stay cool! Movie theaters are credited with introducing modern cooling technology to the masses, and the movie industry began to boom. Manufacturing of Home Goods The industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries readily provided consumers with more products, but as populations grew and technology advanced, clothing, tools, and household goods had to keep up. However, the lack of filtration and cool air in many manufacturing plants caused dust to settle and materials to become unusable. (Humidity would cause rust at early Gillette razor factories!). As air conditioners were installed in these plants, more products could be created safely and with less waste. Candy Factories Much like the manufacturers of household products, food producers have also come to rely on air conditioning. Prior to the invention of air conditioning, refrigeration technology made transportation of goods easier than ever, but producing solid chocolate bars and sweets, like marshmallows and gum, was nearly impossible in the heat. Air conditioners prevented melting and sticky messes on the factory floor, which allowed the public to get their hands on these tasty treats more regularly. Air conditioners have come a long way in 120 years, but they still need regular servicing. If you need assistance with your air conditioning unit this summer, call the experts at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley.
aireserv.com/mid-hudson-valley 2
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online