For decades, Big Mac has been much more than a simple sandwich: it has consolidated itself as a symbol of pop culture, economic reference and key to the international expansion of McDonald’s.
But this was not the first sandwich made by the large fast food chain. It was released in 1967 by a franchisee in Pittsburgh, to compete with the most robust rival net hamburgers.
Almost six decades later, Big Mac not only became one of the best selling items in the world but also became an economic indicator used even by the magazine The Economist.
Big Mac emergence
Big Mac’s idea was born from a practical problem. Franchisee Jim Delligatti wanted to offer a greater snack to Pennsylvania industrial workers who sought a more complete meal.
For this, he mixed two hamburgers, lettuce, cheese, special sauce, onion and pickles between three slices of bread.
The starting price was only $ 0.45 (forty -five cents). In the quotation of Friday, when dollar was at $ 5.59, this would give $ 2.51 (two reais and fifty one cents).
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Big Mac enters the McDonald’s menu
In 1968, after local success, McDonald’s adopted the sandwich officially on the US national menu.
Since then, it has been marketed in virtually every market where the network operates – which includes over 100 countries.
He bears the same name around the world, except in India where, due to culture, the hamburger is made of chicken and is called Chicken Maharaja Mac.
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Big Mac becomes an economic index
Big Mac’s popularity and the presence around the world made the sandwich go beyond the gastronomic universe.
In 1986, The Economist magazine created the “Big Mac index”, a humorous way to measure purchasing power and currency parity around the world, comparing the price of the sandwich in different countries.
Today, in addition to representing an economic unit of measure, Big Mac is also a symbol of American soft power and one of the largest brands in business history.
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It is estimated that more than 550 million Big Macs will be sold per year worldwide.
A symbol that crosses crises
Despite changes in eating habits and competition growth, Big Mac remains relevant. According to data from the network itself, it is still among the five best selling products of the brand.
McDonald’s constantly invests in nostalgic marketing and local adaptations to maintain the sandwich appeal.
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In practice, Big Mac acts as an “emotional asset” of the company: when the economy slows or the brand faces challenges, it is often used in promotional campaigns to attract the consumer for symbolic and historical value.
Big Mac Curiosities
Arcos Dorados Brasil, franchised by McDonald’s in Latin America, published on its site a list of curiosities about Big Mac:
- Big Mac is not the first McDonald’s sandwich. He officially entered the menu in 1968. The official anniversary date is August 3.
- Big Mac’s first name was Big Attraction.
- It is the only sandwich available throughout the network, and bears the same name around the world. The exception is for India where, due to culture, the hamburger is made of chicken and is called Chicken Maharaja Mac.
- The jingle “two hamburgers, lettuce, cheese, special sauce, onion and pickles on a sesame bread” was launched in the US in 1974, and began to be aired in Brazil in 1983.
- All seven ingredients are the same since the creation of the sandwich.
- Bread in the middle of the sandwich plays an essential role: it is responsible for absorbing the special sauce and preserving the taste of the meat, which is 100% beef.
- More than 8.6 million units are sold every month in Brazil.
- To always ensure the same flavor, quarterly tastings of Big Mac ingredients are performed.
