Burger franchise shaking up the market

Steak ‘n Shake, the top US gourmet burger chain that offers premium burgers and excellent value, seeks ambitious European franchise partners

Steakburgers are headed to Europe. The Steak ‘n Shake brand – the pioneer of America’s most popular gourmet burger – is bringing 100 per cent certified organic premium steakburgers, along with fresh-cut fries and award-winning hand-dipped milkshakes, to Europe as part of its international expansion. Steak ‘n Shake senior executives will be in Europe throughout the summer, seeking and meeting with long-term partners that will help develop the European market.

In 1934, Steak ‘n Shake pioneered the concept of a ‘better burger’ by handcrafting burgers made with cuts of steak, the steakburger. Steak ‘n Shake continues to source, slice, grind and create the choicest quality ingredients available and continues to serve customers a fresh, quality product – made in front of them to ensure cleanliness, freshness, quality and wholesomeness.

Freshest products
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Steak ‘n Shake offers steakburgers that are 100 per cent certified organic, made from the top grade of the finest meat with no preservatives, hormones or antibiotics. Its hand-cut fries are thin, crisp, never frozen and made to order from only the freshest potatoes available. Voted the number one milkshake by Zagat, the shakes have always been made the same way since 1934 – all hand dipped with real milk combined in a stainless container, blended at a custom shake station and poured into a tall frosted glass, all topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

In over 510 US locations, Steak ‘n Shake generates system-wide sales of nearly $1 billion by selling more than 110 million steakburgers annually, as well as more than 80,000,000 servings of fries and 60,000,000 hand-dipped milkshakes. Today, Steak ‘n Shake is one of the most recognised and loyal brands in the USA restaurant industry. Consumers maintain they continue to get freshness and quality each time they visit a Steak ‘n Shake restaurant anywhere, which has resulted in a strong and loyal fan base. Over 350,000 patrons visit Steak ‘n Shakes daily.

Surge in growth
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In 2008, the company was purchased by Sardar Biglari, Chairman and CEO of Biglari Holdings, a diversified holding company engaged in a number of business activities with significant operations in the restaurant and investment management business.

Immediately, Steak ‘n Shake experienced dynamic growth in sales, and earnings ensued even in the midst of a long-term global economic recession. Steak ‘n Shake has seen over 30 per cent cumulative growth in customer traffic over the last four years. Biglari Holdings’ commitment to Steak ‘n Shake, its partners and franchisees is unprecedented – Sardar Biglari promises that Steak ‘n Shake will never be sold.

Europe is lacking a gourmet burger chain offering premium burgers at an excellent value, and the Steak ‘n Shake brand is positioned to fill that void. To support its European expansion, Biglari Group, headquartered in Monte Carlo, is building operational capabilities to support its partners during the launch process. Biglari Group will build out Steak ‘n Shake to ensure fast learning and rapid success by providing support in all areas, including training, menus, products, brands, locations, design, supply chain, training and other functional areas.

Design solutions
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Biglari Design, a subsidiary of Biglari Holdings, provides modular, customised restaurant design solutions for its franchisees. This allows franchisees to select from multiple options to best suit their site specific real estate needs, with flexible solutions in building sizes ranging from 70 square metres to 300-plus square metres. What will set Steak ‘n Shake apart from the competition is Biglari Design’s creative drive to provide the finest design and aesthetics in an unmatched setting, combined with Steak ‘n Shake’s commitment to premium, high quality ingredients and distinctive preparation at excellent prices.

Steak ‘n Shake also provides a structured training programme designed to teach management the fundamentals of operating a Steak ‘n Shake Restaurant, including restaurant operations, leadership development, restaurant management skills, food safety and overall business development. Every manager will receive hands-on technical training to become familiar with and be trained on every position in the restaurant.

European partners
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With Steak ‘n Shake launching a worldwide expansion into the global market, the brand is actively looking for ambitious partners to help develop the European market.

As Steak ‘n Shake is transforming into a global brand, the top 20 senior executives are currently in Europe looking for long-term partners with the capital and operational expertise to develop the European market.