Latest news with #Smashburger
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Smashburger's new CEO wants to flip the script on the burger chain's fortunes
Jim Sullivan is taking the wheel at Smashburger as the fast food chain's latest CEO. The name of the game is to "refresh" the burger chain 's identity and "reclaim" its footing in a flooded market, he told Business Insider. Sullivan, who has worked at Smashburger since June of 2024 as the brand's chief development officer and, since February, its president, was appointed to the role of CEO on Tuesday. He replaces Denise Nelsen, who left the company in February after less than a year in the role. Sullivan is the sixth person to hold the title of CEO since Smashburger's 2007 launch. His goal is to make the brand that put thin and crispy burger patties on the map nearly 20 years ago smash the competition — literally and figuratively. "This brand was built on five main pillars: taste, taste, taste, variety, and value, and that's what I'm going to be laser-focused on," Sullivan said. "So whether it's in-restaurant, online, or third-party, we want to make sure that we have a consistent theme, and that's about our high-quality products." Questions of ownership, value, and brand identity have circled the chain for years. Stalled talks of an early IPO gave way to an acquisition by Jollibee in 2018. In the years since, Smashburger has faced shaky financials and decreased its footprint from a peak of 335 global units to 204 open locations across 30 US states and seven countries. Sullivan said the recent launch of the "Summer of Smash" menu, featuring the return of its Smoked Brisket Bacon Smash and a new lineup of offerings under $4.99 to attract price-conscious consumers, was in line with this strategy. After driving growth at major chains like Qdoba and CKE Holdings —which runs Hardee's and Carl's Jr. restaurants — Sullivan is also doubling down on new franchises. The chain operates 121 corporate locations and 83 franchises. Over the next 12-18 months, Sullivan said he plans to hire outside experts to help with expansion into nontraditional marketplaces like airports and college campuses. "For us, the focus is going to be winning back guests and getting our food back in more of our consumers' mouths, to put Smashburger back where it belongs: the category leader in the premium fast casual space," Sullivan said. After years of sizzling, stalling, and starting over, it appears Sullivan is hoping he can flip the script — and maybe a few patties — on Smashburger's fast-casual comeback campaign.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Smashburger promotes president to CEO
Smashburger, a fast-casual restaurant chain known for its smashed burgers, has promoted Jim Sullivan to CEO, focusing on brand repositioning and franchise expansion. Sullivan, who had served as president since February 2025, will now lead the company's strategy and oversee all operations. The restaurant chain said Sullivan's focus will be on brand positioning, a return to category leadership, and growth via franchising and non-traditional unit expansion. The appointment of Sullivan as CEO marks a significant milestone for Smashburger, showcasing the strategic advancements the company has made in the past six months. The company's advancements include the launch of the 'Summer of Smash' campaign, the introduction of a new value tier, menu innovations like the Bacon Brisket Smash, and the opening of a new location at Detroit Metro Airport. The company notes that the initiatives have led to higher guest satisfaction scores, improved operational performance, and sustainable growth. Smashburger is a wholly owned subsidiary of restaurant firm Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC). In his new role, Sullivan also plans to reinvest in the in-restaurant experience, recognising its importance as a differentiator in the competitive market. Sullivan said: "Our bold flavor, elevated guest experience, and operational discipline give us a distinct edge in a crowded space. With the strategic support of JFC, we are leveraging scale and operational flexibility to drive focused, capital-efficient growth. This is a brand built on craveable taste tailored to today's consumer and we're building it to perform over the long-term for our guests, our teams, and our franchisees.' Sullivan brings more than 25 years of executive and restaurant development experience to his new role as CEO. Prior to joining Smashburger, Sullivan was the chief development officer at QDOBA, where he managed global expansion and new restaurant development. Smashburger is known for its Certified Angus Beef burgers, which are smashed on the grill to lock in flavor and create a signature sear. "Smashburger promotes president to CEO" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Smashburger promotes Jim Sullivan from president to CEO
You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletter. Smashburger — the Denver, Colo.-based, fast-casual burger concept — announced Tuesday the promotion of Jim Sullivan from president to CEO. Sullivan has served as president of the company since February and is replacing Denise Nelson, who stepped down as Smashburger CEO in June. Sullivan joined Smashburger in June 2024 as chief development officer before he was promoted to president earlier this year. Before that, he held multiple development leadership roles across the restaurant industry, including chief development officer at Qdoba and at CKE Restaurants. "Jim brings decisive leadership, a clear vision, and a deep understanding of Smashburger's position in the market," Richard CW Shin, CEO and global chief finance and chief risk officer of Smashburger parent company, Jollibee Group International, said in a statement. "He has already laid the foundation for a more focused brand that is delivering better food, a stronger guest experience, and renewed momentum across the system. With Jim at the helm, I believe we are entering a new chapter of opportunity for Smashburger—one rooted in a strong guest connection, and a relentless drive to win." As CEO of Smashburger, Sullivan will be tasked with leading the company through a brand repositioning, accelerating franchise development (especially in non-traditional locations), and focusing on reinvestment in the in-restaurant experience. "Smashburger modernized the technique of smashing burgers and we're reclaiming that leadership with intention and momentum," Sullivan said in a statement. "Our bold flavor, elevated guest experience, and operational discipline give us a distinct edge in a crowded space. With the strategic support of JFC, we are leveraging scale and operational flexibility to drive focused, capital-efficient growth. This is a brand built on craveable taste tailored to today's consumer and we're building it to perform over the long-term for our guests, our teams, and our franchisees." Contact Joanna at Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Smashburger® Lands at Detroit Metro Airport, Expanding Non-Traditional Footprint
New location brings crave-worthy burgers, breakfast wraps, and unbeatable value to DTW DETROIT, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Smashburger®, a leading fast-casual better burger brand, is expanding its non-traditional footprint with a new location at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). This opening underscore the brand's continued growth in travel hubs and commitment to delivering crave-worthy burger experiences to guests on the go. Located near Gate B19 in the McNamara Terminal the restaurant will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. In addition to Smashburger's classic offerings, the DTW location offers a travel-friendly breakfast menu designed for those on the move—featuring bacon, egg & cheese breakfast sandwiches and new grab-and-go breakfast wraps, perfect for fueling up before an early morning flight. "Detroit is a city with deep culture and energy, and we're proud to bring our bold, best-in-class burgers to its travelers," said Jim Sullivan, President at Smashburger. "This opening reflects our commitment to making Smashburger more accessible in high-traffic, high-opportunity spaces like airports, arenas, and beyond." Travelers on the go through DTW will have the chance to indulge in Smashburger's breakfast menu and signature menu, featuring a variety of Certified Angus Beef® burgers and chicken sandwiches including: Classic Smash All American Smash Bacon Stack Smash Crispy Chicken Sandwich Chicken Smash Burger Veggie Smash Chicken Caesar Salad And more on-the-move options like Chicken Tenders, Tots, and fresh coffee to enjoy around the airport. The DTW location is operated in partnership with SSP America, SSP America, a division of SSP Group, a leading operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide, "At SSP America, we're committed to bringing cool, authentic restaurants to airports that reflect the tastes travelers crave," said Natalie Greene, Senior Director, Brands and Concepts at SSP America. "Smashburger's bold flavors and modern take on the classic American burger make it a standout addition to DTW—offering the quality, speed, and comfort travelers crave." Smashburger now ranks among the top 15 most loved food brands in U.S. airports (Yelp) and is on pace to open 12 to 15 non-traditional locations in 2025. For more information about Smashburger, visit About Smashburger® Smashburger® is a leading fast-casual better burger restaurant known for its Certified Angus Beef® burgers that are smashed on the grill to sear in the juices and seal in the flavor. In addition to burgers, Smashburger® offers grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches, black bean burgers, fresh salads, signature side items such as Brussels sprouts and SmashFries®, and hand-spun shakes. Founded in 2007 in Denver, Colorado, Smashburger is recognized as a 2023 Stevie American Business Award winner for Achievement in Product Innovation, named one of the 2023 Top Workplaces by The Denver Post and ranked as one of Fast Casual's top 20 brands in its 2023 Top 100 Movers & Shakers Award. The brand has 203 corporate and franchise restaurants operating in 31 states and seven countries. To learn more, visit About SSP AmericaSSP America is a division of SSP Group, is a leading global operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations employing around 49,000 colleagues in over 3,000 units across 37 countries. We specialise in designing, creating and operating a diverse range of food and drink outlets in airports, train stations and other travel hubs across six formats: sit-down and quick service restaurants, bars, cafés, lounges, and food-led convenience stores. Our extensive portfolio of brands features a mix of international, national, and local brands, tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients and customers. The SSP America team is driven by a shared vision to bring authentic restaurant experiences to every airport in North America. Our employees have a passion for exceptional food served by people who believe in heartfelt hospitality. Our airport partners trust SSP America to deliver a world-class portfolio of brands with broad passenger appeal and lasting commercial viability. Our brand heroes trust us to bring a taste of place to their hometown airport. To learn more visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Smashburger
Business Insider
18-07-2025
- General
- Business Insider
I tried barbecue burgers from Burger King, Shake Shack, and Smashburger. The best one tasted restaurant-quality.
For many people, barbecue sauce is a summer staple. The flavor profile is everywhere, from cookouts to the drive-thru line. But when it comes to which fast-food chain delivers the best bang for your buck with its barbecue burger, that's a little more up in the air. I tried barbecue burgers from Burger King, Shake Shack, and Smashburger to determine which chain offered the best taste and value. Here's how three fast-food barbecue burgers ranked, from worst to best. The burger came topped with pieces of crispy onions. The burger came topped with cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon, crispy fried onions, and barbecue a pile of crispy onion bits, I could clearly see the barbecue sauce, although overall, the burger looked and felt a little dry when I picked it up. The burger patty was also dry and well-done. I'm not a fan of any burger cooked past medium, so this well-done patty simply wasn't doing it for me, but how a burger is cooked is a matter of personal cheese on the burger I tried also wasn't melted enough to provide enough moisture to counteract the dryness of the the bacon on this burger blew me away. It was smoky and perfectly cooked. The barbecue burger from Burger King landed squarely in the middle of my ranking. I ordered the BBQ bacon Whopper Jr. and added cheese. It cost $11.09, excluding tax and fees, which I thought was a little pricey for a junior-sized burger. I would order this burger again, but it didn't blow me away. The bacon was crispy, though not as flavorful as the bacon from the other two burgers I tried. However, I thought this was a great classic cheeseburger. The onions, lettuce, and tomato were fresh, and the beef was juicy while still retaining a smoky, chargrilled it tasted similarly to a classic Whopper, and I didn't get a strong barbecue flavor from it. It was a classic cheeseburger, but I was looking for more barbecue flavor. My favorite burger came from Shake Shack. Shake Shack, which has US locations in 30 states and Washington, DC, offers two different kinds of barbecue burgers: the Smoky Classic BBQ burger and the Carolina BBQ burger with fried pickles.I ordered the classic version, which is topped with fried onions and bacon. It cost $13.29, excluding tax and fees, making it the most expensive burger of the bunch. The cheese was perfectly melted, and the onions were crispy and mouthwatering. The cheese was evenly coated on every inch of the thin, crispy patty, and the bun held everything together while still retaining its softness. This Shake Shack burger blew me away. It tasted restaurant-quality. Though thin and crispy, the burger was still perfectly cooked at a medium temperature, and the onions, though crispy, weren't hard, crunchy, and dry like the onions on the Smashburger cheeseburger I than bits of cut-up onions that didn't have much flavor, these onions were more similar to onion rings, and instantly transported me back to summer carnivals and roadside pickles added a tart, crunchy flavor, and this was the only burger where I really tasted the barbecue sauce. It was smoky yet light and had a slight vinegar taste that balanced out the richer flavors of the cheese, beef, and it was the most expensive burger, I thought it was well worth the slightly higher price.
