# Smashburger

> Smashburger is a Denver-born fast-casual restaurant chain built around a theatrical bit of kitchen physics: pressing fresh Certified Angus Beef onto a hot griddle to create a crisp, caramelized sear. Now wholly owned by Jollibee Group, the company sells made-to-order burgers, chicken, hot dogs, fries, shakes, catering, gift cards and loyalty-driven digital ordering through a mixed corporate-and-franchise network. Its current strategy pairs premium ingredients with an under-$5 value tier, a tighter menu and measured expansion into airports, military bases and selected franchise markets.

- **Founded:** 2007
- **Headquarters:** Denver, United States
- **Founders:** Tom Ryan (Co-founder and culinary concept leader), Rick Schaden (Co-founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 2,300 employees in the supplied company record; LinkedIn lists 1,001-5,000 employees
- **Products:** Smashed-to-order burgers, Chicken, veggie and all-Angus alternatives, Signature sides and shakes, Smash Everyday Value, SmashRewards and digital ordering
- **Notable:** Opened its first restaurant in Denver in 2007 and became an early national name in the better-burger category., Passed 200 restaurants unusually quickly for a fast-casual concept., Named No. 1 on Forbes' 2011 list of America's Most Promising Companies.

## Products & services

- **Smashed-to-order burgers** — Fresh, never-frozen Certified Angus Beef pressed on a hot griddle for a caramelized sear, served in signature and customizable builds.
- **Chicken, veggie and all-Angus alternatives** — Crispy chicken sandwiches, Chicken Smash offerings, veggie burgers and all-Angus hot dogs broaden the menu beyond beef burgers.
- **Signature sides and shakes** — Rosemary-garlic SmashFries, SmashTots and hand-spun Häagen-Dazs shakes lift the meal beyond the core sandwich.
- **Smash Everyday Value** — A value platform with selected burgers and hot dogs starting at $4.99 at participating restaurants.
- **SmashRewards and digital ordering** — An app and web ordering program that saves favorite orders, awards points and distributes offers and free-food rewards.
- **Catering and gift cards** — Burger-bar catering, pickup or delivery at participating locations, plus physical and digital gift cards.
- **Restaurant franchises** — Franchise opportunities for traditional and nontraditional venues, supported by brand, menu and operating systems.

## Achievements

- Opened its first restaurant in Denver in 2007 and became an early national name in the better-burger category.
- Passed 200 restaurants unusually quickly for a fast-casual concept.
- Named No. 1 on Forbes' 2011 list of America's Most Promising Companies.
- Sold nearly two million Triple Double Burgers during the product's 2017 launch year, according to the company.
- Expanded the brand across multiple countries through corporate and franchise development.
- Recognized as a Top Workplace in 2024 on the company's careers site.
- Returned to unit growth with openings in an airport, a military base and a priority suburban market during 2025-2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Introduced a streamlined summer lineup led by the Pickle Stack Smash and returning Smoked Brisket Bacon Smash; said up to 12 new locations were planned for 2026.
- **2026-05** — Named Kate Savelli chief marketing officer, Theresa Vitale director of nontraditional franchise development and Jack Reed vice president of Western operations.
- **2026-04** — Partnered with creative agency Understory to unify brand narrative, digital content, campaigns and loyalty storytelling.
- **2026-04** — Rolled out a spring menu spanning premium burgers, the $4.99 value tier, hot dogs and salads.
- **2026-02** — Opened a 1,600-square-foot franchised restaurant in Huntersville, North Carolina, its fourth location in the state.
- **2025-11** — Launched a taste, variety and value campaign and began rolling out a red, white and black visual identity.
- **2025-09** — Opened at Naval Air Station North Island, extending its nontraditional venue strategy.
- **2025-08** — Promoted Jim Sullivan to CEO with a mandate centered on flavor, franchise growth, operational discipline and nontraditional sites.
- **2025-07** — Opened at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport with breakfast wraps and grab-and-go items alongside the core menu.

## Links

- Website: https://smashburger.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smashburger
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/Smashburger
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smashburgerofficial
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smashburger
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smashburger
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smashburger

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/smashburger
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-13