Smashburger

About Smashburger

Smashburger, a fast-casual restaurant chain, was established in 2007 in Denver, Colorado, by Tom Ryan and Rick Schaden. Ryan, a veteran of the food industry with a Ph.D. in flavor and fragrance chemistry, leveraged his extensive experience from roles at Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's, and McDonald's, where he was involved in developing popular items like the Stuffed Crust Pizza and the McGriddle. This background in food innovation was pivotal in creating Smashburger's signature cooking method.

The company's core offering is its fresh, never-frozen, 100% Certified Angus Beef burgers. The brand's name is derived from its unique cooking process: a hand-packed ball of beef is smashed onto a hot, buttered grill. This technique sears the burger, locking in the juices and creating a distinct flavor and texture. Beyond the classic burger, the menu includes regional recipes tailored to local tastes, chicken sandwiches, turkey burgers, black bean burgers, and a variety of sides like Smashfries tossed in rosemary, olive oil, and garlic. Salads and hand-spun milkshakes made with Häagen-Dazs ice cream round out their offerings.

Smashburger operates in the competitive better-burger segment of the restaurant industry, targeting customers seeking a higher quality experience than traditional fast-food chains. Its business model is centered on a franchise system, allowing for rapid expansion alongside corporate-owned locations. In 2015, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), a major Philippine-based restaurant company, acquired a 40% stake in Smashburger, a move that provided significant capital for growth and international expansion. By 2018, JFC had increased its ownership to 100%, making Smashburger a wholly-owned subsidiary.