The hamburger business
汉堡生意
Read the magazine article below about the history and development of McDonald's.
读以下摘自杂志上有关麦当劳的历史和发展的文章。
In 1954, an American businessman called Ray Kroc was selling milkshake machines.
1954年,一位名叫雷·克劳克的美国商人在销售奶昔机。
One small drive-in hamburger stand in California bought not one but eight of these expensive machines.
加利福尼亚州的一家“免下车”汉堡店买了八台这种昂贵的机器,而不是一台。
Surprised by this, Kroc decided to go and visit it.
克劳克对此感到很惊讶,决定去参观一下。
Arriving before the hamburger stand opened, Kroc sat in his car and watched.
克劳克在汉堡店开门之前就到了,坐在小轿车内观看着。
A team of young people in uniforms appeared and started cleaning the stand and its car park, making everything neat and tidy.
一群穿着制服的年轻人来了,在清扫麦当劳店和停车场,使其一切整洁干净。
When opened for business, the hamburger stand was immediately filled with customers.
开业时,汉堡店立即围满了顾客。
The staff were cheerful, fast and polite. The food was excellent.
职员兴致很高,速度快并有礼貌。食物非常好吃。
Impressed by the cleanliness, service and food, Kroc looked up at the name over the hamburger stand.
克劳克对其清洁,服务和食物留下了深刻印象,他仰头看了看麦当劳店上方的名字。
It read, 'McDonald's Hamburgers'.
上面写着“麦当劳汉堡店”。
Although started six years earlier, in 1948, McDonald's was still a small business owned by two brothers, Mac and Dick McDonald.
虽然早在六年前,1948年这家店就开了,但是麦当劳仍是一家小店,所有权属于迈克·麦当劳和迪克·麦当劳两兄弟。
Kroc suggested that they should set up more outlets, but the brothers were happy with their life and did not want to expand further.
克劳克建议他们多开几家分店,但兄弟俩对他们的生活很满足,并不想进一步扩大生意。
However, they did allow Kroc to launch other branches of McDonald's for them.
不过,他们确实允许克劳克为他们开设麦当劳的其他分店。
That was the start of the biggest fast-food company in history.
这是有史以来最大的快餐公司的起始。
In 1955, Kroc opened his first McDonald's near Chicago, and many more swiftly followed.
1955年,克劳克在芝加哥附近开了第一家麦当劳店,随后很快又开了很多。
In 1959, the 100th McDonald's was opened.
1959年,第一百家麦当劳开张了。
In 1961,Kroc took over complete ownership of the business from the brothers by paying them US $2.7 million.
1961年,克劳克花了270万美元从麦当劳兄弟手中买下了麦当劳的全部所有权。