Denver-based announced Thursday that it has added five new franchise partners in five markets and is acquiring its New Jersey franchise territory.
The company said the addition of the new franchise partners will allow it to debut in three new markets.
It also noted that with this year’s growth, combined with the New Jersey acquisition, the company will move its systemwide corporate and franchised breakdown closer to its goal of 60 percent company-owned and 40 percent franchised locations.
The company said it has partnered with David Walker and Kerry Hohle of Sizzle Adventures to debut the first Smashburger restaurants in Tallahassee, Fla., and open four locations in northern Florida over the next few years.
In Charleston, S.C., Smashburger said it has partnered with Josh Snyder of Low Country Burgers to debut Smashburger and open three new restaurants in the area over the next couple of years.
In Salt Lake City, Smashburger has teamed with Mark and Chris Beck-McKay to expand the brand’s operations in Utah with the opening of six new restaurants.
In Colorado Springs, the company said it has partnered with Lucas and Allyson Farnham of Better Burger Builders to open three new restaurants.
And in Ventura County, Calif., the company said it has partnered with Ron and Ryan Hunter to open three new restaurants over the next few years.
In New Jersey, Smashburger said it has entered into an agreement to acquire a 75 percent stake in 13 restaurants currently owned and operated by franchise partner Scott Gillman of Mascott Corp.
It noted that Gillman, who has been a Smashburger Franchisee of the Year, will continue to be actively involved in the growth of Smashburger in New Jersey.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939, hpankratz@denverpost.com or twitter.com/howardpankratz
