Fun fact of the day: one in eight Americans has worked at McDonald’s at some point in their lives. That translates into 42 million people, or 12.5 percent of the population.
That includes astronauts, teachers, playwrights, fitness instructors and fashion designers.
On Wednesday, the restaurant chain celebrated this fact with a special 1 in 8 homecoming celebration in New York for current and former crewmembers. That included Peloton instructor and author Cody Rigsby, Michelin-star chef Harold Villarosa, TV host, actress and entrepreneur Alejandra Espinoza, McDonald’s franchise owner Paul Hendel — who joined McDonald’s when he was 16 and now owns 31 restaurants — and designer Kendall Hurns.
Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer, said that although McDonald’s knew how many people got their start in their restaurants, the company had “never taken time to share it externally.”
But that’s about to change since the brand’s 1 in 8 initiative is being featured in its latest promotions. The content highlights real people from local restaurants and their stories and is being used in TV spots, on social media and for digital content.
One of McDonald’s alumni is Hurns, founder of the lifestyle brand Robotic Minds Concept. Hurns said he started working at a local restaurant as a summer job as a teen. “My mom told me, ‘You’ve got to buy your own stuff.’ My friends and I always went to McDonald’s and it was across the street from my house, so it was a very natural decision,” the Illinois native said.
Once he got older, he started making T-shirts for himself and his friends, which led to the creation of Robotic Minds Concepts, which has now developed a loyal following. “My last collection was with LeBron James,” Hurns said of last year’s capsule with the athlete’s Unknwn brand.
On Wednesday, Hurns showed the signature product for McDonald’s 1 in 8 promotion: a limited-edition Letterman jacket that was presented to crewmembers at the event and will be available for sale for $185 beginning Monday.
The jacket, made from Melton wool and with leather sleeves, features illustrations of Speedee, McDonald’s first mascot, intended to symbolize fast service, as well as McDonald’s Crew and Coast to Coast embellishments.
“I got to play with graphics and it was amazing,” he said, adding that “you don’t have to work at McDonald’s to wear it. It’s a cool accessory to have and I think we’ll be seeing it on the streets.”
