OERTHER FOODS, INC.
APOPKA, FLORIDA

The Journey of Oerther Foods I had the burning desire to be my own person, my own boss,” said Gary Oerther. “I wanted to leave a legacy for my family. But I knew I needed someone to help me, someone to prop me up. That’s what McDonald’s did.” Oerther opened his first McDonald’s restaurant in Ohio in 1973. He now owns 24 restaurants in Central Florida and employs more than 900 people. Oerther began his career in computers after graduating from college. He rose quickly and was soon a director of computer operations for a large Ohio company. He remembered watching his father go off to work in a factory each morning. He wanted to find out if there was more to be had from life.“I always thought about how wonderful it would be if my father had his own business that I could go into it, too,” Oerther said. “We could have a legacy and build it together. Oerther Foods “I had the burning desire to be my own person, my own boss,” said Gary Oerther. “I wanted to leave a legacy for my family. But I knew I needed someone to help me, someone to prop me up. That’s what McDonald’s did.” Oerther opened his first McDonald’s restaurant in Ohio in 1973. He now owns 24 restaurants in Central Florida and employs more than 900 people. Oerther began his career in computers after graduating from college. He rose quickly and was soon a director of computer operations for a large Ohio company. He remembered watching his father go off to work in a factory each morning. He wanted to find out if there was more to be had from life.“I always thought about how wonderful it would be if my father had his own business that I could go into it, too,” Oerther said. “We could have a legacy and build it together.” With that dream for his family, Oerther walked away from his job in computers and partnered with McDonald’s. He spent more than two years in training, working in McDonald’s restaurants near his home to learn the business. Finally, McDonald’s offered him the chance to open his own restaurant. It was a new restaurant – and while Oerther knew he was in for a challenge, he was not prepared for the depth of that challenge. “I actually lived in the basement of the restaurant because I had to be there constantly,” Oerther said. “It was a struggle for the whole family, but we knew we were on to something big.” Oerther eventually realized that there would be more long-range opportunity in Florida and sold his Ohio business to purchase McDonald’s restaurants in Central Florida. He had used his time in Florida to establish a reputation as an innovator. His McDonald’s on Orlando’s International Drive near Sand Lake Road has been among the highest revenue-generating McDonald’s restaurants in North America, thanks to a high-efficiency customer-service system Oerther developed. He has pioneered the use of credit cards in McDonald’s and had led the introduction of new products such as pizza and hand-dipped ice cream. FIND AN OERTHER FOODS MCDONALD'S NEAR YOU “Use the form below to send us your comments or report any problems you experienced at any of the Oerther Foods Restaurants. We read all feedback carefully, and will respond within 72 business hours. Comments are always welcome!” Connect with US! Join our email list – This is your inside scoop to events, promotions, how we make our food and what we are doing in the your community”