14 incredible facts you didn't know about McDonald's

McDonald's, like all the other stuff that was cool to 90s kids, is going through something of a renaissance.

Shares in the chain are up almost 28 per cent on last year, and sales are up 5.4 per cent thanks to a turnaround plan put in place by new British CEO Steve Easterbrook to improve on five years' worth of disappointing results.

Here are some jaw-dropping McFacts about one of the biggest chains in the McWorld:

1. McDonald's founder, Ray Kroc, was as ruthless in his approach to business as any Wall Street yuppie:

Contracts are like hearts. They're meant to be broken.

2. The first item on their menu was actually a hot dog, not a hamburger.

3. In German branches you can buy beer.

4. If McDonald's was a country it would be the 68th richest in the world.

5. McDonald's is the largest distributor of toys in the world.

6. You can buy taro pies in McDonald's in Japan.

7. And chicken porridge with scallions, ginger and chillies in Malaysia.

8. And the Hawaiian Deluxe Breakfast includes the Hawaiian favourite, spam.

9. One in eight Americans have worked for McDonald's at some point (including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos):

10. The Golden Arches are more recognised globally than the Christian cross.

11. In 2005 a man called Ronald McDonald robbed a Wendy's in New Hampshire.

12. McDonald's feeds 68 million people - the entire of the UK, or about one per cent of the world's population - every single day.

13. That's 75 burgers every second.

14. And one billion cups of coffee a day.