{"id":33194,"date":"2024-03-06T10:46:32","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T15:46:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=33194"},"modified":"2024-03-06T10:46:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T15:46:32","slug":"how-a-lenten-tradition-led-to-the-creation-of-the-mcdonalds-filet-o-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2024\/03\/how-a-lenten-tradition-led-to-the-creation-of-the-mcdonalds-filet-o-fish.html","title":{"rendered":"How a Lenten Tradition Led to the Creation of the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 1962, McDonald’s franchisee Lou Groen realized that his cheeseburger sales were down on Fridays, especially during the time leading up to Easter. The reason? Groen lived in Cincinnati, a heavily Catholic area, and observant Catholics were avoiding hamburgers and other meat products on Fridays as part of their faith. Ever the business executive, Groen knew there must be something to lure in this customer base on Fridays.<\/p>\n

His creativity would lead to the creation of the Filet-O-Fish sandwich.\u00a0The McDonald’s website notes, “With determination and a knack for thoroughness, Groen convinced McDonald’s to test a breaded whitefish sandwich to help satisfy customers who abstained from eating meat on Fridays in observance of Lent.” That breaded fish sandwich would become known as the Filet-O-Fish. Paul Groen told McDonald’s, “My father exemplified Ray Kroc’s philosophy that you can succeed if you put the customer first.”<\/p>\n

The younger Groen followed in his father’s footsteps and also owns multiple McDonald’s locations.\u00a0At the time of the creation of the\u00a0Filet-O-Fish, Lou Groen was “barely doing $300 in daily sales” on Fridays, said Paul Groen. He said, “My father needed that fish sandwich to survive and compete against other restaurants. He set in motion a framework of success that would benefit future generations.” At the same time Groen was testing the Filet-O-Fish, McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc had another meatless alternative idea: the\u00a0Hula Burger.<\/p>\n