As the old saying goes give a man a filet of fish and you feed him for a day teach a man how to buy his own file to fish and you feed him for a lifetime, in fact, there are fast food joints everywhere and they all seem to have their own version of McDonald's famous fish sandwich is it some kind of conspiracy well today we're spilling the tartar sauce on why every fast food joint has a fish sandwich but before let us know what other fast food items you'd like to hear about H is something smelling fishy to y'all in 1962 Lawrence of Arabia was in movie theaters Chubby Checker's The Twist was on the radio and Cincinnati McDonald's franchisee Lou Gro was having a religious crisis his McDonald's was located in an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic neighborhood and
Roman Catholics didn't eat meat on Fridays in honor of Jesus Christ's sacrifice needless to say it was a tough spot for a restaurant that at the time had no Entre but Burgers on its venue unwilling to essentially lose an entire day of business every week groan tried to convince McDonald's to start selling a breaded white fish sandwich he got the idea from a competing franchise called fr's Big Boy founder David fresh was getting all of gr's lost Friday night sales by putting a fish sandwich on the menu and one wanted one too it should have been an easy swim but Gran's fish ran into a Croc Ray Croc liked to hold himself out as the founder of
McDonald's even though he bought the company from its true Founders Richard and Maurice McDonald in 1961 however Croc was responsible for transforming the company from a burger stand into the single most famous restaurant in the world seriously try to find someone who hasn't heard of McDonald's when groan came to Croc with his fish sandwich idea Croc reluctantly agreed that the golden arches needed a non-meat option that being said he wasn't too hot on the thought of all of his locations suddenly wreaking of a fish also and perhaps most importantly Croc had his own idea for a meatless menu item the hoola Burger which was essentially a standard McDonald's cheeseburger with a grilled slice of pineapple instead of a beef patty proving success truly does breed Innovation Croc hated the thought of a fish sandwich and as owner of
The Great Menu Battle: McDonald's Fillet-O-Fish vs. Hula Burger
McDonald's he easily could have just gone with his own idea but he seemed genuinely interested in choosing the options customers would like the most hey you don't sell a trillion hamburgers by not giving the people what they want so we decided to develop both ideas and have them battle it out for Supremacy gr's proposed fish sandwich was fried habit and tartar sauce on a bun but that was too expensive at the time so much to his disappointment he had to use Atlantic Cod a white fish to compensate for what he felt was a loss in taste he added a half slice of cheese why a half slice the obvious reason would be to save money but on at least one occasion
McDonald's has claimed it's a genuine bit of Food Science delivering quote the perfect balance for the Tangy tartar sauce and crispiness of the file fish coating according to the company itself both sandwiches were placed on sale at selected locations on Good Friday in 1962 Croc was wildly confident about the hoola Burger's chances so it was probably a bit of a shock to him when they added up the receipts at the end of the day and sold 350 files fishes compared to amley six Hulu Burgers that's just under 60 to1 in case you were wondering as for the
Hulu Burger Croc would later recall it was a giant flop One customer said they said I like the Hoola but where's the burger it's an honest question but Croc genuinely seemed to like the Hoola burger and frequently claimed that he still made the sandwich for himself at home true to the terms of the competition the file fish would become the first ever addition to the original McDonald's menu it had a limited launch in 1963 and was immediately a massive success so in 1965 priced at 29 cents and powered by the mildly creepy slogan the fish that catches people the file fish showed up at McDonald's Nationwide for grown the file fish turned out to be the fish that catches money the sandwich improved business at his
The Expensive Evolution of McDonald's Menu: From Fillet-O-Fish to Global Expansion
McDonald's so much he decided to open a few more and by a few we mean he built 43 new locations that employed over 3,000 people earning grown over $60 million a year imagine what the payday would have been if he'd gotten in early enough to invent [Music] fish one of the reasons McDonald's has never expanded its menu before is that it was too expensive new foods that could be made in a way that fit the McDonald's brand were difficult to develop for example when working on the filo fish the company had teams of chefs and scientists working around the clock to determine things like the thickness of the filet the type of breading to be used and the cooking time and temperature it's not rocket science it's much harder than that this new food also meant maintaining relationships with fish suppliers rejiggering shipping and storage practices and training employees on new procedures all of which was a big costly pain in the Bass But ultimately well worth the effort from a top his big new pile of fellow fish profits
COC joked that since he made the fish sandwich for Roman Catholics the pope would change the rules and it seemed like a pretty safe joke to make because what were the odds the pope would change centuries of Roman Catholic tradition at the exact same time the file fish was hitting the Market Pro couldn't see the future or else he might have avoided that whole pineapple debacle but sometimes ironic jokes come true and sure enough in 1965 the second Vatican Council decided it was permissible to eat meat on Friday as long as you didn't do it during Lent maybe the pope preferred the hola Burger the pope may have taken some of the wind out of the sales of the file fish but nothing could stop the sandwich's success that's at least partially thanks to the power of advertising an area in which
McDonald's has always accepted [Music] and over the decades the company has taken several approaches to sell its fish sandwich the most memorable campaign came in 1976 when they briefly introduced a McDonald land type mascot for the feta fish named Phil A O Fish hey there are no bad ideas in a brainstorm Phil dressed in a sailor's jacket and Boer's hat and was from the Irish part of the ocean he was also strangely dedicated to catching his fellow fish carrying a fishing net and endorsing the slogan Phil an oish says for a surprisingly good taste try file to fish implying Phil himself found the sandwich surprisingly good guess he didn't know any of these fish however Phil vanished almost as quickly as he appeared in 1977 less than a year after
The Competitive World of Fast Food Fish Sandwiches: From McDonald's Filet-O-Fish to Arby's Kings Hawaiian Fish Deluxe
Phil's introduction McDonald's had already switched to a new campaign and Phil A O Fish never returned after McDonald's made a boatload of money selling the filo fish to Roman Catholics as a meatless option with a side of air quotes every other fast food joint Under the Sun wanted in on that action Wendy's has its premium cod filet sandwich Burger King has the big fish sandwich Pope eyes has a seafood pooy White Castle has a fish slider and even Dairy Queen has the Alaskan Pacific Cod sandwich and if you order from the secret menu a sardine blizzard Arby's promoted it's new Kings Hawaiian fish Deluxe crispy fish and fish and cheddar sandwiches by taking a direct swipe at the file fish on Twitter Bojangles even join
The Fray the fast food chain, not the tap dancer pumping up its Bojangles fish sandwich, of course, none of this came close to the publicity stunt Red Robin tried way back in 2015 when they invited Pope Francis to visit the chain during Lent offering to serve the wild pacific crab cake Burger to guest for free if he agreed to do a quick popup but his Holiness ultimately declined maybe he's more of a Red Lobster Guy the file fish is the only Seafood item permanently on McDonald's menu but it isn't the only fish product they ever tried in 2013 Mickey D's tried out fish MCB bites which were essentially fish McNuggets only Less Fun to say and apparently nowhere near as tasty customers didn't MC bite and they were thrown back to the sea in less than a year fishy as for the fleo fish it changed a bit over the decades in 2001
McDonald's switched from using hbit to Wild Cod Alaskan pollock habit as it turns out matures slowly and is especially vulnerable to fishing the company made the change out of a concern over sustainable fishing practices in 2013 the Golden Arches became the first and as of now the only National restaurant chain in the US to adopt the Marine Stewardship Council blue EOL Lael which is the most recognized certification for sustainable Seafood in the world not bad Ronald that's right the file fish has also produced some interesting variations depending on where you live in the US you can order it with specially formulated Old Bay tartar sauce and in some Asian McDonald's you can get it with Wasabi and of course, you can still get the good old classic file fish or a BK big fish a Bojangles or whatever other variation you prefer because these days every fast food joint has a fish sandwich so what do you think what's your favorite drive-through Seafood let
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Every fast food joint has a fish sandwich, a phenomenon explained by the history of McDonald's Filet-O-Fish. |
| Origin of Filet-O-Fish | In 1962, Lou Groen, a Cincinnati McDonald's franchisee, needed a solution for Fridays when Roman Catholics didn't eat meat. He proposed a breaded white fish sandwich to McDonald's. |
| Competition with Big Boy | Groen got the idea from Frisch's Big Boy, which already offered a fish sandwich and attracted Groen's lost Friday sales. |
| Ray Kroc's Resistance | Ray Kroc, the owner of McDonald's, was initially reluctant but agreed to test both Groen's fish sandwich and his own idea, the Hula Burger (a burger with a pineapple slice). |
| Taste Test Showdown | Both sandwiches were tested on Good Friday in 1962, resulting in 350 Filet-O-Fish sales versus just six Hula Burgers. |
| Success of Filet-O-Fish | The Filet-O-Fish became McDonald's first non-burger addition, launching nationwide in 1965. It was priced at 29 cents and significantly boosted Groen's business. |
| Development Challenges | Creating new menu items at McDonald's required extensive R&D, new supplier relationships, and employee training, but the Filet-O-Fish proved worth the effort. |
| Vatican II and Meat Rules | Ironically, the Second Vatican Council in 1965 relaxed rules on eating meat on Fridays, but the Filet-O-Fish's success was already established. |
| Marketing Campaigns | McDonald's marketing, including the brief appearance of Phil A. O. Fish in 1976, played a significant role in promoting the Filet-O-Fish. |
| Competitors' Fish Sandwiches | Other fast food chains like Wendy's, Burger King, Popeyes, and Arby's introduced their own fish sandwiches following McDonald's success. |
| Variations and Sustainability | The Filet-O-Fish has seen variations (like Old Bay tartar sauce and wasabi) and in 2013, McDonald's switched to sustainable Alaskan pollock and earned the Marine Stewardship Council's certification. |
| Conclusion | The Filet-O-Fish remains a staple, and the trend of fish sandwiches at fast food chains continues. The article invites readers to share their favorite drive-through seafood options. |
FAQS: The History of Fast Food Fish Sandwiches
Q1: Why do many fast food chains offer fish sandwiches?
- A1: Fast food chains offer fish sandwiches to cater to customers who avoid meat on certain days, especially Roman Catholics who traditionally don't eat meat on Fridays. This helps maintain sales during times when meat consumption is lower.
Q2: How did the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish come about?
- A2: The Filet-O-Fish was created in 1962 by Lou Groen, a McDonald's franchisee in Cincinnati, to cater to his Roman Catholic customers who didn't eat meat on Fridays. It competed with Ray Kroc's Hula Burger and won, becoming the first non-meat item on the McDonald's menu.
Q3: What was the Hula Burger?
- A3: The Hula Burger was Ray Kroc's alternative to the Filet-O-Fish, consisting of a grilled pineapple slice instead of a beef patty. It was unsuccessful, selling only six units compared to 350 Filet-O-Fish sandwiches on its test day.
Q4: Why did the Filet-O-Fish become successful?
- A4: The Filet-O-Fish was a hit because it provided a tasty, non-meat option for McDonald's customers, particularly Roman Catholics on meat-free Fridays. Its popularity led to its nationwide release in 1965.
Q5: What changes have been made to the Filet-O-Fish over the years?
- A5: Originally made with Atlantic cod, the Filet-O-Fish switched to Alaskan pollock in 2001 to promote sustainable fishing. It has also seen variations like Old Bay tartar sauce in the US and Wasabi in some Asian countries.
Q6: How did other fast food chains respond to the success of the Filet-O-Fish?
- A6: Other fast food chains quickly followed suit. Wendy's, Burger King, Popeyes, White Castle, and even Dairy Queen introduced their own fish sandwiches to attract the same customer base.
Q7: Has McDonald's tried other seafood items?
- A7: Yes, McDonald's introduced Fish McBites in 2013, but they were not successful and were discontinued within a year.
Q8: How has McDonald's promoted the Filet-O-Fish over the years?
- A8: McDonald's has used various advertising campaigns, including introducing a mascot named Phil A. O'Fish in 1976. Despite changing campaigns, the Filet-O-Fish remains a staple on their menu.
Q9: What is unique about the Filet-O-Fish today?
- A9: The Filet-O-Fish uses sustainably sourced Alaskan pollock and carries the Marine Stewardship Council blue label, making McDonald's the first and only national restaurant chain in the US to use this certification.
Q10: Are there any notable marketing stunts related to fast-food fish sandwiches?
- A10: In 2015, Red Robin invited Pope Francis to visit their chain during Lent, offering free wild Pacific crab cake burgers if he accepted. The Pope declined, highlighting the lengths to which chains will go to market their fish sandwiches.
Q11: What is the significance of the Filet-O-Fish for McDonald's franchisee Lou Groen?
- A11: The success of the Filet-O-Fish dramatically increased Lou Groen's business, allowing him to open 43 more McDonald's locations, employing over 3,000 people and earning him significant profits.
Q12: What was the reaction to the Filet-O-Fish's introduction?
- A12: The Filet-O-Fish was well-received, leading to its national launch in 1965. Its success was partially due to the compelling advertising slogan, "The fish that catches people."
Q13: How did Vatican II impact the Filet-O-Fish?
- A13: The Second Vatican Council in 1965 relaxed the rules on eating meat on Fridays, which could have affected the Filet-O-Fish sales. However, the sandwich's popularity continued due to its established customer base.