| Details | | Publication Date: | 1997-10-01 |
| Size | | Length: | 286 pages | | Height: | 9.5 in | | Width: | 6.5 in | | Thickness: | 1.2 in | | Weight: | 23.2 oz |
Publisher's Note
Here is the "Burger King's" own fascinating account of how he launched and built a billion-dollar empire from humble beginnings and helped change the way the world eats ... how he challenged arch rival McDonald's ... the many times he nearly failed ... and the surprising inspiration for the "Whopper" campaign that arrived just in time to save Burger King from going ketchup-side-down. The Burger King is at once an endearing self-portrait of a true American original ... and a rare insider's look at why America eats the way it does. It's an epic tale of an industry giant who, through his devotion to his company and community, let billions of people "have it their way".
In this intimate autobiography that entrepreneurs and managers will find instructive and inspirational, Jim McLamore looks back on the origins of the Burger King empire. He charts its growth over four decades, from the opening of the Insta Burger King in 1954 and the arrival of the Whopper to the chain's memorable (and not so memorable) ad campaigns. Brimming with McLamore's never-say-die spirit and drawing interesting parallels to the experiences of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc, this is the definitive look at an American original and philanthropist who helped usher in the fast-food era.
Industry Reviews
With his company changing hands several times it was acquired by Pillsbury, which was then bought by Grand Metropolitan and the continuing woes at arch-rival McDonald's, the story of Burger King's creation is just a footnote to the history of the fast-food industry. But as told by McLamore, one of the company's cofounders, it is an informative footnote indeed. McLamore, who died in 1996, documents in detail the many mistakes an entrepreneur can make; for example, he stuck too long to his original concept basically copying McDonald's sold to Pillsbury too early and believed that a hands-on manager like him could work comfortably within a large corporate environment after the acquisition. Yet what comes through is what made the company successful: McLamore's ability to borrow ideas such as the Whopper, Burger King's signature sandwich; insist on systems that lead to solid service; establish the brand name and worry about how to pay for it all later. Details are sometimes lacking here, and long-forgotten competitors are mentioned as if they were still in business, but McLamore gives an excellent account of what happens when you start a business that is more successful than you ever imagined. (Nov.)
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