--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our stores were selling only nine items…" description: "\"“Our stores were selling only nine items, and they were buying only thirty-five or forty items with which to make the nine. So although a McDonald’s re..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/ray-kroc-3141_quote_our-stores-were-selling-only-nine-items_769963.jpg" --- # Our stores were selling only nine items, and they were… ![“Our stores were selling only nine items, and they were buying only thirty-five or forty items with which to make the nine. So although a McDonald’s restaurant’s purchasing power was no greater in total than that of any other restaurant in a given area, it was concentrated. A McDonald’s bought more…” quote by Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/ray-kroc-3141_quote_our-stores-were-selling-only-nine-items_769963.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/ray-kroc-3141_quote_our-stores-were-selling-only-nine-items_769963.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dc/ray-kroc-3141_quote_our-stores-were-selling-only-nine-items_769963.jpg) > ““Our stores were selling only nine items, and they were buying only thirty-five or forty items with which to make the nine. So although a McDonald’s restaurant’s purchasing power was no greater in total than that of any other restaurant in a given area, it was concentrated. A McDonald’s bought more buns, more catsup, more mustard, and so forth, and this gave it a terrific position in the marketplace for those items. We enhanced that position by figuring out ways a supplier could lower his costs, which meant, of course, that he could afford to sell to a McDonald’s for less. Bulk packaging was one way; another was making it possible for him to deliver more items per stop. A”” [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. McDonald’s success stems from concentrated purchasing, bulk buying, and supplier cost reductions, creating market dominance despite similar total spend. **In simple terms:** McDonald’s buys in bulk to lower costs and dominate the market. Key Takeaway Leverage volume for advantage. Themes business economics scale efficiency competition Mood practical strategic analytical Type business economic operational When to use this quote - restaurant management - retail - entrepreneurship - cost control Key Concepts supply chain operations strategic sourcing Questions to Reflect On - How can small businesses emulate bulk advantages? - What risks arise from over‑concentration? A Different Perspective Relying heavily on bulk can create vulnerability to supply disruptions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Purchasing power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purchasing-power/) ## Related quotes > [“Someday, he thought, it’ll be mandatory that we all sell the McDonald’s hamburger as well as buy it; we’ll sell it back and forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/someday-he-thought-it-ll-be-mandatory-that-we-all-sell-the-mcdonald-s/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The illusiveness of this concept of national income is to be seen in its dependence on changes in the purchasing power of the monetary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-illusiveness-of-this-concept-of-national-income-is-to-be-seen-in/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Increased wages, higher pensions, more unemployment insurance, all are of no avail if the purchasing power of money falls faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/increased-wages-higher-pensions-more-unemployment-insurance-all-are/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [Exercise your purchasing power as a consumer, volunteer and bring joy to those in need, and share your experiences, tell your stories, and inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/exercise-your-purchasing-power-as-a-consumer-volunteer-and-bring-joy/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [It is production that creates purchasing power, not the printing press!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/it-is-production-that-creates-purchasing-power-not-the-printing-press/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Do not let yourselves be discouraged or embittered by the smallness of the success you are likely to achieve in trying to make life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-babson/do-not-let-yourselves-be-discouraged-or-embittered-by-the-smallness/) [Roger Babson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-babson/) > [Less money for retirees means less purchasing power means less economic growth overall. It's a big problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedrick-smith/less-money-for-retirees-means-less-purchasing-power-means-less/) [Hedrick Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedrick-smith/) > [An underpaid man is a customer reduced in purchasing power. He cannot buy. Business depression is caused by weakened purchasing power. 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The reason for this is simply that PPPs are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/purchasing-power-parities-are-not-a-reasonable-method-for-comparing/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [The price of every thing rises and falls from time to time and place to place; and with every such change the purchasing power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-marshall/the-price-of-every-thing-rises-and-falls-from-time-to-time-and-place/) [Alfred Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-marshall/) ## More by Ray Kroc > [I believe in God, family, and McDonald's. 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