McDonald’s franchisee Lou Groen realized in 1962 that his cheeseburger gross sales had been down on Fridays, particularly through the time main as much as Easter.
The rationale? Groen lived in Cincinnati, a closely Catholic space — and observant Catholics had been eschewing hamburgers and different meat merchandise on Fridays as a part of their religion.
Ever the enterprise govt, Groen knew there should be one thing to lure on this buyer base on Fridays.
His ingenuity would result in the creation of the Filet-O-Fish sandwich.
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“With dedication and a knack for thoroughness, Groen satisfied McDonald’s to check a breaded whitefish sandwich to assist fulfill prospects who abstained from consuming meat on Fridays in observance of Lent,” the McDonald’s web site notes.
That breaded fish sandwich would turn out to be referred to as the Filet-O-Fish.
1 / 4 of all Filet-O-Fish gross sales happen through the 40 days of Lent, stated McDonald’s. Within the U.S., the Filet-O-Fish is fabricated from Alaskan pollock. (Smith Assortment/Gado/Getty Pictures)
“My father exemplified Ray Kroc’s philosophy that you may succeed should you put the client first,” Paul Groen advised McDonald’s.
The youthful Groen adopted in his father’s footsteps and likewise owns a number of McDonald’s areas.
On the time of the creation of the Filet-O-Fish, Lou Groen was “barely doing $300 in day by day gross sales” on Fridays, stated Paul Groen.
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“My father wanted that fish sandwich to outlive and compete towards different eating places. He set in movement a framework of success that might profit future generations,” he stated.
On the identical time Groen was testing the Filet-O-Fish, McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc had one other meatless different concept: the Hula Burger.
The Hula Burger consisted of a chunk of grilled pineapple served on a bun, with cheese.
Whereas Kroc had religion in his creation, the general public didn’t.
A McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish meal with fries in Feb. 2024. True to its origins, the Filet-O-Fish is very widespread throughout Lent, based on the McDonald’s web site. (Fox Information Digital)
The Filet-O-Fish proved to be much more widespread than the Hula Burger.
The Hula Burger was discontinued in 1963.
Its base elements – bun, tartar sauce, breaded fish and half-slice of cheese – have remained unchanged since its official launch.
In 1965, the Filet-O-Fish was added to the McDonald’s menu nationally — and have become the primary new product ever added to the chain’s unique menu.
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On the time, the Filet-O-Fish was priced at $0.29.
It was the one non-hamburger sandwich on the menu, says the McDonald’s web site.
Its base elements – bun, tartar sauce, breaded fish and half-slice of cheese – have remained unchanged since its official launch.
The Filet-O-Fish proved to be much more widespread than the “Hula Burger” meatless providing. (iStock)
At present, in the US, the Filet-O-Fish is fabricated from Alaskan pollock.
The sandwich can also be out there in lots of international locations, with slight regional variations.
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In contrast to different fast-food fish choices, which seem solely throughout Lent, the Filet-O-Fish stays on the McDonald’s menu year-round.
And, true to its origins, it stays particularly widespread throughout Lent, stated the McDonald’s web site.
A full 25% of all Filet-O-Fish sandwiches are offered through the 40 days of Lent.
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Fox Information Digital reached out to McDonald’s for extra remark.
For extra Life-style articles, go to www.foxnews.com/life-style.
