Delicious food is the key ingredient to Jollibee and Smashburger’s partnership

MANILA, Philippines - Great-tasting food and a good restaurant business are among the key ingredients that sealed the partnership between Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), the largest Asian company, and Smashburger, a leading fast-casual “better burger” brand in the United States.

“Our recent venture with Smashburger came about as both companies clearly put utmost value upon delivering delicious food, while adhering to world-class operating standards and building well-loved, family-friendly brands,” said JFC chairman Tony Tan Caktiong.

Regarded as JFC’s largest investment outside the Philippines to date, the 40-percent acquisition of Smashburger is seen to reinforce the company’s presence in the United States by going beyond the Filipino market and serving mainstream consumers in the $100 billion US burger market.

Smashburger CEO Scott Crane said, “As founders and entrepreneurs, Tony Tan Caktiong and I share a true passion for the restaurant business, having opened and operated our very first restaurants. We both have built teams that focus on bringing the highest and best-tasting food to our restaurants.”

Smashburger is popularly known for its fresh, never-frozen, 100-percent certified Angus beef burgers that are “smashed” on the grill to sear in the juices, creating an upscale quality burger packed with flavor and served at a great value. The brand also offers grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches, fresh salads, signature side items such as Haystack Onions and Veggie Frites, and handspun Haagen-Dazs shakes.

Started in Denver, Colorado in 2007, there are currently 339 Smashburger restaurants in 35 states in the US and seven countries. This fast-casual, “better burger” fast-food chain has been recognized in surveys and publications as one of the best-tasting burgers in the US.

 “Smashburger is indeed one of the fastest-growing restaurant brands in the US and we are very excited to work side by side with their owners and management as we continue its growth,” added Tan Caktiong.

JFC is currently operating a global network of over 3,000 restaurants worldwide. Its success in the QSR industry both locally and globally is due to its reputation for serving great-tasting products and customer-first services.