Smashburger, the rapidly expanding better burger restaurant, today announced it has ranked 9th on the inaugural ranking of Inc.’s Hire Power Awards, recognizing the private businesses that have generated the most jobs in the past three years. Sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the Inc. Hire Power Awards celebrate private companies on the forefront of American job creation.
Smashburger is the country’s fastest growing fast casual restaurant concept which has built its reputation on fresh, made-to-order, 100 percent Certified Angus Beef burgers that are “smashed” and seared to lock in juicy flavor. Over the past three years, the company has created 995 jobs and today has 186 restaurant locations globally, with locations in 28 markets in the United States, as well as international locations in Canada, Costa Rica and Kuwait. By the end of 2012 the company will have nearly 200 restaurant locations around the globe. In 2013, Smashburger plans to open 70 to 80 new restaurants and will hire more than 225 employees to support brand growth both at the corporate level and at company-owned restaurants in key domestic and international markets. Smashburger’s franchise partners will collectively add several hundred additional jobs.
“We are honored to be recognized with Inc.’s Hire Power Award and for our role in creating jobs in the restaurant industry,” commented Dave Prokupek, chairman and CEO of Smashburger. “With our focus on expansion, there are many exciting opportunities with our company. And no matter how fast and big we grow, we know at the heart of our great food is our employees. It’s their excellent service and understanding of our culture that makes Smashburger so successful.”
Inc. is the only major business media brand aimed solely at CEOs of fast-growing private companies. The Hire Power Awards will appear in Inc.’s December/January issue, as well as the brand’s web site, www.inc.com.
“The top 100 companies on the list have created 73,032 American jobs in the three-year period from 2008 to 2011 – an amazing feat, given that much of that job growth came during the heart of the recession,” explains Inc. editor-in-chief Eric Schurenberg. “And it isn’t just the big guys that are adding jobs. Companies with less than $50 million in annual revenue make up nearly one-third of the Hire Power list.”
The inaugural Inc. Hire Power Awards are sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
