Would McDonald’s be Successful in 2025?
During my podcast discussion with Franchise expert, Brittney Lincoln, we discussed the feasibility of the McDonald’s business model and the cult of personality around it’s founder, Ray Kroc.
Curious, I asked River, my personal AI assistant:
“Based on everything we know today about Ray Kroc, would McDonalds be successful if launched in 2025?”
Retaining all formatting and emojis, here is River’s answer:
If Ray Kroc launched McDonald’s in 2025, using the exact same playbook he used in the 1950s–60s, the golden arches would likely fizzle before they ever sizzled. But if you account for his adaptability, vision, and obsessive systems thinking—and update the model for today’s world? Then yes, McDonald’s could still be wildly successful. Here’s a straight-shooting breakdown:
🔥 What Would Fail in 2025
1. Ultra-processed fast food? Not cool.
Health-conscious consumers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are actively avoiding food that’s greasy, ultra-processed, and lacking in transparency. The original McD’s menu—burgers, fries, shakes—would be called out for low nutritional value and questionable sourcing. Today’s eaters want to know where their food comes from.
2. Exploitative labor practices? That’ll be a PR dumpster fire.
Kroc’s obsession with low-cost, high-output labor wouldn’t fly. In the age of unionization movements, Glassdoor reviews, and TikTok exposés, the McDonald’s labor model would be torched by social media before it ever scaled.
3. Carbon footprint? Hello, backlash.
The supply chain behind McD’s is a climate nightmare. In 2025, climate-aware consumers and ESG investors are watching. A chain dependent on factory farming and disposable packaging would get grilled.
4. Franchising saturation is real.
The 1950s were a wide-open frontier for franchising. In 2025, it’s overcrowded. You can’t just roll up with a low-margin, high-volume concept and expect instant buy-in from investors or operators. The bar is higher.
💡 What Would Still Work
1. Systems, baby.
Ray Kroc was a master of operational consistency. That obsession with repeatable systems, automation, and franchisee support? That’s still gold. In fact, it’s exactly what makes companies like Chick-fil-A and Sweetgreen work today.
2. Vision-driven leadership.
Kroc was a showman with a mission. He could sell a dream, and that’s still what fuels brand growth. If he had today’s tools (AI, data analytics, influencer partnerships), he’d weaponize them with gusto.
3. Scalability mindset.
He understood how to scale without losing the soul of the brand (at least at first). In 2025, the winners are companies that can scale ethically, efficiently, and tech-integrated. Kroc would hire the right brains to make it happen.
🧠 If Kroc Launched McDonald’s in 2025, He’d Likely Pivot to:
- An AI-optimized ghost kitchen model for delivery-first meals
- Plant-based and health-forward options (think: Beyond burgers, avocado toast breakfast wraps)
- Sustainably branded fast-casual concept (a la Sweetgreen or Cava, but with franchising power)
- Franchisee empowerment through tech, not just uniformity (mobile-first dashboards, loyalty apps, localized menus)
- A values-driven story: Not just “speed,” but “community, consistency, and conscious capitalism”
🥊 Final Verdict:
Original McDonald’s launched in 2025? DOA.
Ray Kroc with 2025 tools and context? Still a threat. Still a genius. Still a bulldog in a bespoke suit.
He’d reinvent the model. But the bones of it—simplicity, systems, and scalability—would still be there. With an Impossible Big Mac and biodegradable wrappers, of course.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Do you agree with River that the current iteration of McDonald’s would fail if launched in 2025? Do share in the comments.
Stay Groovy!
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