Al Bernardin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alcide Eugene Bernardin (1928-02-17)February 17, 1928 Lawrence,Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 2009(2009-12-22) (aged 81) Monterey,California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, business executive,McDonald's restaurant franchisee |
Al Bernardin (February 17, 1928 – December 22, 2009) was an Americanrestaurateur and businessman who invented theMcDonald'sQuarter Pounder in 1971 as afranchise owner inFremont, California.[1] The creation of the Quarter Pounder earned him the nickname "Fremont's hamburger king."[1]
Bernardin, during the 1960s, was McDonald'svice president ofproduct development. His position allowed him to play a key role in the development of some of the company's signature menu items, including frozenfrench fries, which allowed for easierstorage and transportation,[1] as well as the McDonald'sfish sandwich,apple pie andcherry pie.[1][2]
Bernardin was born on February 17, 1928, inLawrence, Massachusetts.[3] He received hisbachelor's degree fromCornell University in 1952.[3]
He was first hired to work at McDonald'sIllinoiscorporate headquarters in 1960.[1] Bernardin was promoted todean of the company's training center,Hamburger University, within just six months of joining McDonald's.[1][3]
Bernardin purchased two company-owned McDonald's inFremont, California, and relocated to the city in 1970.[1] He successfully expanded his McDonald's franchise business, eventually owning nine of the restaurants throughout southernAlameda County.[1]
Once in Fremont, Bernardin began experimenting with new menu items for his franchises. In 1971, Bernardin introduced the now famous Quarter Pounder at his McDonald's locations.[1] He explained his idea for the Quarter Pounder in a 1991interview marking the 20th anniversary of the burger's development saying, "felt there was a void in our menu vis-à-vis the adult who wanted a higher ratio ofmeat tobun."[1] Bernardin unveiled the Quarter Pounder using theslogan, "Today Fremont, tomorrow the world."[1] The Quarter Pounder is now one of McDonald's most popular signature items, having been added to the national American menu in 1973.
Additionally, Bernardin worked as McDonald's vice president ofproduct development during his career with the company.[1] Though he was most famous for introducing the Quarter Pounder, Bernardin felt that his most important contribution to McDonald's and the largerfast food industry was the development of frozen french fries.[1] Until 1967, all McDonald's french fries had to be cut on-site from stored potatoes and fried. Bernardin's frozen fries allowed for easier transport of the product and cleared storage space which was previously used for storing potatoes. He explained the benefits of frozen fries saying, "Before that, the (restaurants) had to store potatoes in the basement. It was a real pain."[1]
As vice president, Bernardin also shepherded the development of the McDonald'sFilet-O-Fish,[1] as well the company's fried apple and cherry pies.[2] Not all of Bernadin's suggestions were included on McDonald's menus. McDonald's turned down his idea for a groundturkey meat burger called theMcGobbler.[1] The company also dismissed his The Lite Mac sandwich, which would have consisted of a one fifth-poundburger patty containing 15% lessbeef fat than a normalBig Mac.[1]
Bernardin spent approximately two years developing aprototype for butteredcorn-on-the-cob, according to his son, Mark Bernardin, who is also a McDonald's franchise owner.[1]
Bernardin and his wife, Joan Bernardin, became involved inphilanthropy after his uncle received treatment in ahospice.[1] Impressed by his uncle's hospice care, Bernardin founded the Tree of Angels, aChristmas tree lighting festival designed to raise money for the Pathways Hospice, based inSunnyvale, California.[1]
The couple moved to theMonterey, California, area in the mid-1990s,[1] eventually settling inPebble Beach.[2] He spent time as a volunteer at hospices throughoutnorthern California.[2] Bernardin became a majorbenefactor for theCommunity Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, known as CHOMP.[2]
In addition to his home in Pebble Beach, Bernardin also had residences inPleasanton, California, Spanish Bay andCape Cod.[2]
Bernardin suffered from astroke later in his life.[1] He died of complications of that stroke[1] on December 22, 2009, at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula inMonterey, California, at the age of 81.[2] He was survived by his wife, Joan Bernardin, two children, Kirsten and Mark, three stepchildren, Dan Ryan, Julie Bullas, Kristie Ryan and ten grandchildren.[1]