Smashburger is to make its debut in the UK in Milton Keynes later this spring.
The group, which is looking to open more than 35 restaurants across the UK in the next few years, has secured a site at British Land’s Kingston Centre and is believed to be in talks on a further two units for further openings later this year. It is working with Cushman & Wakefield to find suitable sites.
The company’s UK managing director Tim Lowther told M&C: “We are delighted to be beginning the launch of Smashburger in the UK in such a fabulous location as Milton Keynes. This will amongst the first openings for the brand in 2016 and we are excited to be getting going.”
The company, which operates more than 310 corporate and franchise restaurants in 34 states and seven international countries, signed a partnership with AL Ventures Ltd, part of the MSG Group last year to launch in the UK.
MSG Group, which is one of the largest Domino’s Pizza franchisees in the UK with an annual turnover of c£100m, has acquired the UK franchise licence for the better burger brand.
Lowther said: “The fast casual dining market is yet to reach its potential and there is most definitely an exciting long term future ahead with huge potential for brands such as Smashburger. We are extremely looking forward to propelling Smashburger to lead the better burgers in the UK. Due to its laser focus on quality and taste, we are certain Smashburger will appeal to the UK’s tastes and more importantly satisfy the burger feeding frenzy for the next 30 years and beyond.
“We are looking across the UK, if the right site comes up at the right time in London, then we would open that as a flagship and that would be fantastic, but as you know the property market in the UK is a drawn out process and you don’t usually find a site you can move in tomorrow.
“What we won’t do wait while we look for that flagship site. The brand is flexible and the company that we have formed is flexible enough so we can open anywhere in the UK. If that is in London great, equally if that is outside the capital then that is great.”
