Fred Turner, who played a key role in the growth of McDonald’s and was the architect of its “quality, service and cleanliness” (QSC) policy, has died aged 80.
He began his career grilling burgers in the first outlet at Illinois of Ray Kroc, who eventually bought the chain from the founders, two McDonald brothers in California.
After succeeding Kroc as chief executive, Turner more than trebled its outlets and opened dozens of new markets worldwide.
He established the first McDonald’s Hamburger University and that at head office in Oak Brook, Illinois was renamed the Fred L Turner Training Center. He was also a co-founder of Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides accommodation near hospitals for the families of sick children.
History was his hobby and he personally sponsored the restoration of a Dauntless dive bomber for the Pacific Aviation Museum at Honolulu, Hawaii.
Today McDonald’s has more than 34,000 restaurants.