Burger King#Countries with Burger King restaturants

{{Main|History of Burger King}}

The predecessor to Burger King was founded in 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida, as Insta-Burger King.{{cite book | last=Smith | first=A.F. | title=Fast Food and Junk Food: An Encyclopedia of What We Love to Eat | publisher=ABC-CLIO | issue=v. 1 | year=2012 | isbn=978-0-313-39393-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7-WcKK01H1cC&pg=PA66 | access-date=November 7, 2017 | page=66 | archive-date=December 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219201451/https://books.google.com/books?id=7-WcKK01H1cC&pg=PA66 | url-status=live }} After visiting the McDonald brothers' original store location in San Bernardino, California, the founders and owners (Keith G. Cramer and his wife's uncle Matthew Burns), who had purchased the rights to two pieces of equipment called "Insta-machines", opened their first restaurants. Their production model was based on one of the machines they had acquired, an oven called the "Insta-Broiler". This strategy proved to be so successful that they later required all of their franchises to use the device.{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Andrew F. |title=Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |date=August 30, 2006 |edition=1st |pages=27–28 |isbn=0-313-33527-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mYc4aw7tnekC&q=In+1952,+Matthew+Burns+of+Long+Beach,+California,+invited+his+stepson,+Keith+G.+Cramer&pg=PA172 |access-date=June 14, 2009 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210122131244/https://books.google.com/books?id=mYc4aw7tnekC&q=In+1952,+Matthew+Burns+of+Long+Beach,+California,+invited+his+stepson,+Keith+G.+Cramer&pg=PA172 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |title=Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age |first1=John A. |last1=Jakle |first2=Keith A. |last2= Sculle |last3=Pappas |publisher=JHU Press |year=1999 |edition=1st |pages= 116–117 |isbn=0-8018-6920-X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0nYcgnWKWXgC&q=burger+king+specialty+sandwiches+-nutrition+-subservient+-fries&pg=PA119 |access-date=June 15, 2009 |archive-date= January 23, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210123123713/https://books.google.com/books?id=0nYcgnWKWXgC&q=burger+king+specialty+sandwiches+-nutrition+-subservient+-fries&pg=PA119 |url-status=live }} After the company faltered in 1959, it was purchased by its Miami, Florida, franchisees, James McLamore and David R. Edgerton. They initiated a corporate restructuring of the chain, first renaming the company Burger King. They ran the company as an independent entity for eight years (eventually expanding to over 250 locations in the United States), before selling it to the Pillsbury Company in 1967.{{rp|28}}File:A big whopper meal from Burger King.jpg

Pillsbury's management tried several times to restructure Burger King during the late 1970s and the early 1980s. The most prominent change came in 1978 when Burger King hired McDonald's executive Donald N. Smith to help revamp the company. In a plan called "Operation Phoenix",{{rp|118}} Smith restructured corporate business practices at all levels of the company. Changes included updated franchise agreements,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oBj-sPpJDQcC&q=donald+smith+burger+king&pg=PA64 |title=Making Fast Food: From the Frying Pan Into the Fryer |edition=2nd |first=Ester |last=Reiter |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press |date=March 1996 |page=64 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |isbn=0-7735-1387-6 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122125652/https://books.google.com/books?id=oBj-sPpJDQcC&q=donald+smith+burger+king&pg=PA64 |url-status=live }} a broader menu{{rp|119}}{{rp|66}} and new standardized restaurant designs. Smith left Burger King for PepsiCo in 1980{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/11/business/business-people-deal-for-friendly-offers-official-chance-to-shine.html?pagewanted=1 |last=Siler |first=Julia Flynn |date=August 11, 1988 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 25, 2010 |title=Deal for Friendly Offers Official Chance to Shine |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122014444/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/11/business/business-people-deal-for-friendly-offers-official-chance-to-shine.html?pagewanted=1 |url-status=live }} shortly before a system-wide decline in sales.

Pillsbury's Executive Vice President of Restaurant Operations Norman E. Brinker was tasked with turning the brand around, and strengthening its position against its main rival McDonald's. One of his initiatives was a new advertising campaign featuring a series of attack ads against its major competitors. This campaign started a competitive period between Burger King, McDonald's, and top burger chains known as the Burger wars.{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n51_v22/ai_6935546/pg_2/?tag=content;col1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113204824/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n51_v22/ai_6935546/pg_2/?tag=content%3Bcol1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 13, 2013 |title=Brinker: a man with a vision |last=Romeo |first=Peter |date=December 19, 1988 |work=Nation's Restaurant News |access-date=March 3, 2008}} Brinker left Burger King in 1984, to take over Dallas-based gourmet burger chain Chili's.{{cite web|url=https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Brinker-International-Inc-Company-History.html |title=Brinker International |publisher=Funding Universe |access-date=December 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018234953/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Brinker-International-Inc-Company-History.html |archive-date=October 18, 2007}}

Smith and Brinker's efforts were initially effective, but after their respective departures, Pillsbury relaxed or discarded many of their changes, and scaled back on construction of new locations. These actions stalled corporate growth and sales declined again, eventually resulting in a damaging fiscal slump for Burger King and Pillsbury.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/14/business/company-news-burger-king-s-angry-franchisees.html?pagewanted=print |title=Burger King's Angry Franchises |first=Eric N. |last=Berg |work=The New York Times |date=November 14, 1988 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728010738/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/14/business/company-news-burger-king-s-angry-franchisees.html?pagewanted=print |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=A CEO Bake-Off at Pillsbury |work=Money Magazine |publisher=CNN Money |first1=Brian |last1=Dumaine |first2=Susan |last2=Caminiti |date=November 23, 1987 |access-date=November 1, 2010 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1987/11/23/69877/index.htm |archive-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201093222/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1987/11/23/69877/index.htm |url-status=live }} Poor operation and ineffectual leadership continued to bog down the company for many years.{{cite news|last=Romero |first=Peter |title=Burger King shifts marketing chiefs: irate franchisees spark latest upheaval |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n51_v22/ai_6935524/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101120508/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n51_v22/ai_6935524 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 1, 2008 |work=Nation's Restaurant News |publisher=BNet.com |access-date=November 1, 2010 |date=December 19, 1998 }}

Pillsbury was eventually acquired by the British entertainment conglomerate Grand Metropolitan in 1989.{{cite web |last=Sharon |first=Justin |title=How Burger King Lost Its Crown |url=http://www.minyanville.com/businessmarkets/articles/burger-kings-history-private-equity-3g/9/2/2010/id/29923 |work=Minyanville |access-date=October 31, 2010 |date=September 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113092158/http://www.minyanville.com/businessmarkets/articles/burger-kings-history-private-equity-3g/9/2/2010/id/29923 |archive-date=November 13, 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Brady |first1=Diane |last2=Helm |first2=Burt |last3=Mider |first3=Zachary R. |title=The Challenges Facing Burger King buyer 3G Capital |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-09-08/the-challenges-facing-burger-king-buyer-3g-capital |access-date=October 31, 2010 |newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=September 2, 2010 |agency=Bloomberg News |page=1 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121224621/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-09-08/the-challenges-facing-burger-king-buyer-3g-capital |url-status=live }} Initially, Grand Met attempted to bring the chain to profitability under newly minted CEO Barry Gibbons; the changes he initiated during his two-year tenure had mixed results, as successful new product introductions and tie-ins with The Walt Disney Company were offset by continuing image problems and ineffectual advertising programs.{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/burger-king-corp |title=History of Burger King Corporation |first=Thomas |last=Gale |publisher=International Directory of Company Histories |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com |year=2004 |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122020803/https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/burger-king-corp |url-status=live }} Additionally, Gibbons sold off several of the company's assets in an attempt to profit from their sale and laid off many of its staff members.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/11/business/company-news-grand-met-to-retain-a-burger-king-unit.html |title=Grand Met to Retain A Burger King Unit |agency=Reuters |date=August 11, 1989 |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 28, 2009 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121221337/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/11/business/company-news-grand-met-to-retain-a-burger-king-unit.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n14_v26/ai_12120987/pg_2/?tag=content;col1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113210342/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n14_v26/ai_12120987/pg_2/?tag=content%3Bcol1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 13, 2013 |title=Burger King launches new purchasing co-op |last=Prewitt |first=Milford |date=April 6, 1992 |work=Nation's Restaurant News |publisher=BNet.com |access-date=October 28, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n16_v26/ai_12092600/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113210338/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n16_v26/ai_12092600/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 13, 2013 |title=Burger King to sell Burger King Dist. to Canadian firm |work=Nation's Restaurant News |publisher= BNet.com |date=April 20, 1992 |access-date=October 28, 2009 }}

Burger King's headquarters experienced major damage in 1992 from Hurricane Andrew.

After Gibbon's departure, a series of CEOs each tried to repair the company's brand by changing the menu, bringing in new ad agencies and many other changes.{{cite news |last=Stieghorst |first=Tom |title=Burger King Chief Yields Post |url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-07-22/business/9301250465_1_burger-king-grand-metropolitan-plc-restaurants |newspaper=Sun Sentinel |date=July 22, 1993 |access-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-date=June 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616145358/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-07-22/business/9301250465_1_burger-king-grand-metropolitan-plc-restaurants |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/13/business/company-news-chief-stuns-burger-king-in-shift-to-denny-s-parent.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Chief Stuns Burger King In Shift to Denny's Parent |last=Gilpin |first=Kenneth |work=The New York Times |pages=D3 |date=January 13, 1995 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |archive-date=November 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115132207/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/13/business/company-news-chief-stuns-burger-king-in-shift-to-denny-s-parent.html?pagewanted=1 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n45_v29/ai_17590712/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113210535/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n45_v29/ai_17590712/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 13, 2013 |title=BK chief Lowes takes on chairman title |work=Nation's Restaurant News |publisher=BNet.com |date=November 13, 1995 |access-date=March 13, 2010 }} The parental disregard of the Burger King brand continued with Grand Metropolitan's merger with Guinness in 1997 when the two organizations formed the holding company Diageo.{{cite web|first=Graham |last=Wiemer |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0UQX/is_7_69/ai_n14895441 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090628125444/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0UQX/is_7_69/ai_n14895441/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2009 |title=Spirits soar at Diageo |publisher=The Gale Group |date=July 2005 |access-date=December 31, 2011 }} Eventually, the ongoing systematic institutional neglect of the brand through a string of owners damaged the company to the point where major franchises were driven out of business, and its total value was significantly decreased.{{cite news| url= http://www.boj.com/articles/franchise/burger_king_fixed.htm |title=It was broken, and new owner's fixing it |first=Shelly |last=Reese |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |page=E1 |date=February 4, 2005 |access-date=April 12, 2008 |format=reprint |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512012713/http://www.boj.com/articles/franchise/burger_king_fixed.htm |archive-date=May 12, 2008}} Diageo eventually decided to divest itself of the money-losing chain and put the company up for sale in 2000.{{cite news |last=Batt |first=Carolyn |title=Cash feast for Diageo shareholders from Burger King sale |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2768909/Cash-feast-for-Diageo-shareholders-from-Burger-King-sale.html |access-date=October 31, 2010 |newspaper=Times of London |date=July 26, 2002 |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019095942/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2768909/Cash-feast-for-Diageo-shareholders-from-Burger-King-sale.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Sorkin |first=Andrew Ross |title=Deal to sell Burger King Collapses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/19/business/deal-to-sell-burger-king-collapses.html |access-date=October 31, 2010 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 19, 2002 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110140013/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/19/business/deal-to-sell-burger-king-collapses.html |url-status=live }}

File:Burger-King-Interior-Cork-Ireland-2012.JPG, Ireland]]

The 21st century saw the company return to independence when it was purchased from Diageo by a group of investment firms led by TPG Capital for US$1.5 billion in 2002.{{cite web |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1113/p01s01-usec.html |title=Are private buyouts good for the economy? |first=Mark |last=Trumbull |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=November 13, 2006 |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122020552/https://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1113/p01s01-usec.html |url-status=live }} The new owners rapidly moved to revitalize and reorganize the company, culminating with the company being taken public in 2006 with a highly successful initial public offering.{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/05/12/markets/ipo/burger_king/index.htm |title=Burger King IPO set to fire up |first=Grace |last=Wong |website=CNN Money |date=May 12, 2006 |access-date=September 30, 2007 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025085603/https://money.cnn.com/2006/05/12/markets/ipo/burger_king/index.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Krantz |first1=Matt |first2=Bruce |last2=Horovitz |title=Burger King's IPO declared 'a success' |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2006-05-18-bk-ipo_x.htm |access-date=October 26, 2010 |newspaper=USA Today |date=May 19, 2006 |pages=C1 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121214241/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2006-05-18-bk-ipo_x.htm |url-status=live }} The firms' strategy for turning the chain around included a new advertising agency and new ad campaigns,{{cite news |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2004-03-21-burgerking_x.htm |title=Burger King zaps menu, image |first=Bruce |last=Horovitz |work=USA Today |date=March 22, 2004 |access-date=September 26, 2007 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018082852/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2004-03-21-burgerking_x.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |url=http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=14482 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121215651/http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=14482 |title=Burger King Corporation Selects Crispin Porter + Bogusky As Lead Creative Advertising Agency |publisher=Burger King Corporation |date=January 23, 2006 |archive-date=January 21, 2008 |access-date=September 28, 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cpbgroup.com/ |title=Welcome to the factory |publisher=Crispin Porter + Bogusky |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-date=October 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027080203/http://www.cpbgroup.com/ |url-status=live }} a revamped menu strategy,{{cite web |url=http://adage.com/article/news/burger-king-s-superfan-grandma/141964/ |title=Burger King's 'Superfan' Might Just Be Your Grandma |last=York |first=Emily Bryson |date=February 8, 2010 |work=Ad Age |access-date=February 12, 2010 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502080946/http://adage.com/article/news/burger-king-s-superfan-grandma/141964/ |url-status=live }} a series of programs designed to revamp individual stores,{{cite news |url=http://www.flex-news-food.com/console/PageViewer.aspx?page=17719&str=America%20Burger%20King%20Restaurant |title=Revived and Remodeling Burger King Sees Long-Term Growth |work=FlexNews.com |publisher=Global Data Systems |access-date=January 22, 2010 |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809185955/http://www.flex-news-food.com/console/PageViewer.aspx?page=17719&str=America%20Burger%20King%20Restaurant |url-status=live }} a new restaurant concept called the BK Whopper Bar,{{cite news |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-10-06-burger-king-revamp_N.htm |title=Burger King revamp aims for an 'edgy, futuristic' restaurant look |last=Heher |first=Ashley M. |date=October 7, 2009 |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 24, 2010 |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026044920/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-10-06-burger-king-revamp_N.htm |url-status=live }} and a new design format called 20/20. These changes successfully re-energized the company, leading to a score of profitable quarters.{{cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/108728/burger-king-draws-critics |title=As Sales Drop, Burger King Draws Critics for Courting 'Super Fans' |first=Julie |last=Jargon |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Yahoo.com |date=February 1, 2010 |access-date=February 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204190038/http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/108728/burger-king-draws-critics |archive-date=February 4, 2010}} Yet, despite the successes of the new owners, the effects of the Great Recession weakened the company's financial outlooks while those of its immediate competitor, McDonald's, grew.{{cite news|title=Falling sales force Burger King to put up 'for sale' sign |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKPTIP42715420100901 |access-date=October 31, 2010 |date=September 1, 2010 |work=Reuters |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121017033557/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKPTIP42715420100901 |archive-date=October 17, 2012 }} The falling value of Burger King eventually led to TPG and its partners divesting their interest in the chain in a US$3.26 billion sale to 3G Capital of Brazil.{{cite news|url=http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/09/03/1671710/burger-king-oks-32-billion-buyout.html |title=Burger King OKs $3.2 billion (USD) buyout |last1=Heher |first1=Ashley M. |last2=Fredrix |first2=Emily |work=The Sun News |agency=Associated Press |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=September 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116160802/http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/09/03/1671710/burger-king-oks-32-billion-buyout.html |archive-date=November 16, 2011 }}{{cite news |title=Burger King sold to buy-out firm for $3.26 billion (USD) (£2.1bn) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11168720 |work=BBC News |access-date=September 2, 2010 |date=September 2, 2010 |archive-date=September 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902190947/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11168720 |url-status=live }} Analysts from financial firms UBS and Stifel Nicolaus agreed that 3G would have to invest heavily in the company to help reverse its fortunes.{{cite news |last=Baertlein |first=Lisa |title=Burger King agrees to $3.3 billion (USD) sale to 3G Capital |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burgerking/burger-king-agrees-to-3-3-billion-sale-to-3g-capital-idUSTRE6801CB20100902 |date=September 2, 2010 |access-date=September 5, 2010 |work=Reuters |archive-date=April 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408141651/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burgerking/burger-king-agrees-to-3-3-billion-sale-to-3g-capital-idUSTRE6801CB20100902 |url-status=live }} After the deal was completed, the company's stock was removed from the New York Stock Exchange, ending a four-year period as a public company.{{cite web |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/burger-king-deal-to-go-private-closes-2010-10-19 |title=Burger King deal to go private closes |publisher=Market Watch |date=October 19, 2010 |access-date=November 23, 2010 |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016004103/http://www.marketwatch.com/story/burger-king-deal-to-go-private-closes-2010-10-19 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2010/10/19/burger-king-goes-private.html |title=Burger King goes private |newspaper=South Florida Business Journal |date=October 19, 2010 |access-date=November 23, 2010 |archive-date=October 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023083552/http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2010/10/19/burger-king-goes-private.html |url-status=live }} The delisting of its stock was designed to help the company repair its fundamental business structures and continue working to close the gap with McDonald's without having to worry about pleasing shareholders. In the United States domestic market, the chain fell to third place in terms of same store sales behind Ohio-based Wendy's. The decline was the result of 11 consecutive quarters of same store sales decline.{{cite news |last=Horovitz |first=Bruce |title=Burger King reinvents itself with new food, new look |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-04-01/burger-king-makeover-reinvention/53935172/1 |access-date=April 2, 2012 |newspaper=USA Today |date=April 2, 2012 |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006041121/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-04-01/burger-king-makeover-reinvention/53935172/1 |url-status=live }}

In August 2014, 3G announced that it planned to acquire the Canadian restaurant and coffee shop chain Tim Hortons and merge it with Burger King with backing from Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. The two chains retained separate operations post-merger, with Burger King remaining in its Miami headquarters.{{cite news|title=Tim Hortons, Burger King agree to merger deal|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tim-hortons-burger-king-agree-to-merger-deal-1.2746948|access-date=August 26, 2014|work=CBC News|date=August 26, 2014|archive-date=August 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827012510/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tim-hortons-burger-king-agree-to-merger-deal-1.2746948|url-status=live}} A Tim Hortons representative stated that the proposed merger would allow Tim Hortons to leverage Burger King's resources for international growth. The combined company became the third-largest international chain of fast food restaurants.{{cite news|title=Burger King in talks to acquire Tim Hortons|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/burger-king-in-talks-to-acquire-tim-hortons-report/article20187310/|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=August 25, 2014|archive-date=October 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007055118/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/burger-king-in-talks-to-acquire-tim-hortons-report/article20187310/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Burger King in Talks to Buy Tim Hortons in Canada Tax Deal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/burger-king-in-talks-to-buy-tim-hortons-1408924294|access-date=August 25, 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|archive-date=December 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215204529/http://www.wsj.com/articles/burger-king-in-talks-to-buy-tim-hortons-1408924294|url-status=live}} The deal led to a controversy over the practice of tax inversions, in which a company decreases the amount of taxes it pays by moving its headquarters to a tax haven, a country with lower rates, but maintains the majority of their operations in their previous location. As a high-profile instance of tax inversion, news of the merger was criticized by U.S. politicians, who felt that the move would result in a loss of tax revenue to foreign interests, and could result in further government pressure against inversions.{{cite news|title=Burger King, Tim Hortons talks could turn up heat on tax inversions|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-burger-king-tim-hortons-tax-inversion-20140825-story.html|access-date=August 26, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 26, 2014|archive-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826043415/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-burger-king-tim-hortons-tax-inversion-20140825-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Burger King-Tim Hortons Merger Raises Tax-Inversion Issue|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/burger-king-tim-hortons-merger-plan-raises-tax-inversion-issue-1409010049|access-date=August 26, 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=August 25, 2014|archive-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113001637/http://www.wsj.com/articles/burger-king-tim-hortons-merger-plan-raises-tax-inversion-issue-1409010049|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |title=Burger King to Buy Tim Hortons for $11.4 Billion| url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/burger-king-to-buy-tim-hortons-for-11-4-billion/|date=August 26, 2014|first=Michael|last=De La Merced|access-date=August 26, 2014|work=The New York Times| location=United States|archive-date=August 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120557/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/burger-king-to-buy-tim-hortons-for-11-4-billion/|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Burger King reported that it planned to close up to 250 low-volume locations per year, with closures coming into effect in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Ettinger |first1=Zoë |last2=McDowell |first2=Erin |title=24 fast-food and restaurant chains you might see less of in 2021 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-restaurant-chains-less-of-in-2021-2020-5 |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=Business Insider |date=November 3, 2020 |archive-date=May 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519143822/https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-restaurant-chains-less-of-in-2021-2020-5 |url-status=live }}

In February 2021, Burger King began testing a customer loyalty rewards program called "Royal Perks" in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, New Jersey and Long Island, New York.{{Cite web| last= Lucas| first= Amelia |date=February 9, 2021| title=Burger King tests loyalty program as part of digital push| url= https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/09/burger-king-tests-loyalty-program-as-part-of-digital-push.html|access-date=February 9, 2021| website= CNBC.com |language=en|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209120610/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/09/burger-king-tests-loyalty-program-as-part-of-digital-push.html|url-status=live}}

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, many companies, including Burger King, faced growing pressure to halt operations in Russia.{{Cite web |title=Ukraine invasion: Attention turns to McDonald's and crypto exchanges, yet to take a stand against Russia |url=https://news.sky.com/story/attention-turns-to-mcdonalds-and-cryptocurrency-exchanges-as-holdouts-in-russia-exodus-12557535 |access-date=March 6, 2022 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2022 |title=Ukraine conflict threatens closure of US fast-food chains in Russia |url=https://www.verdictfoodservice.com/news/ukraine-conflict-fast-food/ |access-date=March 6, 2022 |website=Verdict Food Service |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hanbury |first=Mary |title=Here's why American fast-food chains are worried about the conflict in Ukraine |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-burger-king-kfc-worried-about-the-conflict-in-ukraine-2022-2 |access-date=March 6, 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2022 |title=Harsh words, tough action: How companies have rebuffed Russia |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/harsh-words-tough-action-how-companies-have-rebuffed-russia/articleshow/90031470.cms |access-date=March 6, 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} In March 2022, Burger King claimed to have suspended all its corporate support, including operations, marketing, supply chain, investments and expansion in Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, including support to the more than 800 fully franchised restaurant chains in Russia managed by a local master franchisee.{{cite news |date=March 10, 2022 |title=Restaurant Brands International : Burger King Suspends All Corporate Support to Russian Market |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/RESTAURANT-BRANDS-INTERNA-22033517/news/Restaurant-Brands-International-Burger-King-Suspends-All-Corporate-Support-to-Russian-Market-39726052/|access-date=March 10, 2022 |work=MarketScreener.com |language=en}}{{cite news |date=March 10, 2022 |title=Burger King halts corporate support for its 800-plus franchised locations in Russia |url=https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/03/10/burger-king-halts-corporate-support-for-its-800-plus-franchised-locations-in-russia.html|access-date=March 10, 2022 |work=CNBC.com |language=en}} However, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism revealed that Burger King retained its stake in the Russian franchises through an offshore joint venture with the Russian state-owned VTB Bank and a Ukrainian investment firm linked to corrupt deals with Ukraine's former pro-Russian leader.{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2022 |title=Burger King holds a quiet stake in its Russian franchisee even as it publicly distances itself, leaked records show - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/burger-king-holds-a-quiet-stake-in-its-russian-franchisee-even-as-it-publicly-distances-itself-leaked-records-show/ |access-date=March 21, 2022 |language=en-US}}

In October 2023, Tom Curtis, president of Burger King U.S. & Canada, announced a new store design at its annual franchisee convention in Canada, branded "The Sizzle". The company planned to remodel existing Burger King locations with a new look inside and outside, to tackle slowing business after the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The overhaul plan included more kiosks, dedicated pickup areas for mobile app orders, food-ordering platforms like Doordash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, and an improved drive-thru service. In 2023, Burger King remodeled several locations in the United States with the "Sizzle" concept.{{Cite web |date=October 10, 2023 |title=Burger King unveils new restaurant design, streamlined drive-thru |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/10/10/burger-king-restaurant-new-design/ |access-date=October 10, 2023 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}} While the remodel plan was an overhaul to the entire restaurant, Burger King was also investing in a "Refresh" initiative in order to replace equipment and upgrade technologies. By the end of 2023, Burger King completed 264 remodels and exited the year with 46% of its restaurants with a modern image.{{Cite web|url=https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/how-burger-king-boosted-franchisee-profitability-in-2023/707484/|title=How Burger King boosted franchisee profitability in 2023|date=February 14, 2024|access-date=August 25, 2024|last=Littman|first=Julie}}

File:Burger King restaurants in Bulacan Baliwag 01.jpg]]

Burger King Holdings was the parent company of Burger King when it went public in 2002.{{cite web |title=Burger King 2015 10-K |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1547282/000119312514061827/d648966d10k.htm |website=sec.gov |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412215659/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1547282/000119312514061827/d648966d10k.htm |url-status=live }}{{rp|}} Burger King derived its income from several sources, including property rental and sales through company owned restaurants;{{rp|}} however, a substantial portion of its revenue was dependent on franchise fees.{{rp|}} During the transitional period after 3G Capital acquired the company, Burger King's board of directors was co-chaired by John W. Chidsey, formerly CEO and chairman of the company, and Alex Behring, managing partner of 3G Capital.{{cite news|last1=de la Merced |first1=Michael J. |title=Burger King Agrees to $4 Billion Private Equity Offer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/business/global/03burger.html |access-date=January 19, 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 2, 2010 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} By April 2011, the new ownership had completed the restructuring of Burger King's corporate management and Chidsey tendered his resignation, leaving Behring as CEO and chair.{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2010/09/03/news/companies/burger_king_buyout.fortune/index.htm |title=What went wrong at Burger King |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=June 9, 2018 |author=Mitchell, Dan |archive-date=February 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216025001/http://archive.fortune.com/2010/09/03/news/companies/burger_king_buyout.fortune/index.htm |url-status=live }}

Burger King Corporation is currently an independently operated subsidiary of RBI. RBI's present organizational structure includes five primary segments: Tim Hortons, Burger King, Firehouse Subs, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and International. International encompasses the aggregated outcomes from the operations of each brand outside the United States and Canada.

Josh Kobza, the CEO of RBI, was appointed in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbi.com/English/news/news-details/2023/Joshua-Kobza-Appointed-CEO-of-Restaurant-Brands-International/default.aspx|title=Joshua Kobza Appointed CEO of Restaurant Brands International|date=February 14, 2023|access-date=August 26, 2024|website=RBI.com}} Before taking over as CEO in February 2023, Kobza served as CFO, CTO, and COO of RBI. Tom Curtis, the president of Burger King U.S. and Canada, was appointed in 2021 and oversees the operation of the Burger King Corporation in the United States and Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbi.com/files/doc_news/2021/08/2021.08.23-RBI-Press-Release.pdf|title=RBI Press Release|date=August 23, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2024|website=RBI.com}}

In North America, Burger King Corporation is responsible for licensing operators and administering of stores. Internationally, the company often pairs with other parties to operate locations or it will outright sell the operational and administrative rights to a franchisee which is given the designation of master franchise for the territory. The master franchise will then be expected to sub-license new stores, provide training support, and ensure operational standards are maintained. In exchange for the oversight responsibilities, the master franchise will receive administrative and advertising support from Burger King Corporation to ensure a common marketing scheme.{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-152973813/ayala-sells-burger-king.html |title=Ayala sells Burger King stake Lina, Pangilinan named as buyers. |first=Elizabeth L. |last=Sanchez |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=October 18, 2006 |access-date=October 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122091256/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-152973813/ayala-sells-burger-king.html |archive-date=January 22, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_23_37/ai_103382728 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708190134/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_23_37/ai_103382728 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |title=Hungry Jack's to replace BK brand in Australia |author=The Gale Group |publisher=Nations Restaurant News |date=June 9, 2003 |access-date=March 8, 2008 |author-link=Gale Group }} The 3G Capital ownership group announced in April 2011 that it would begin divesting itself of many corporate owned locations with the intent to increase the number of privately held restaurants to 95%.{{cite news |last=Rexrode |first=Christina |title=Burger King settles value menu franchisee lawsuit |url=http://archive.boston.com/business/articles/2011/04/18/burger_king_settles_value_menu_franchisee_lawsuit/ |access-date=December 31, 2011 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=April 18, 2011 |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817012458/http://archive.boston.com/business/articles/2011/04/18/burger_king_settles_value_menu_franchisee_lawsuit/ |url-status=live }} In 2016, the percentage of privately owned Burger King establishments grew to 99.5%. RBI maintains that approximately 100% of Burger King franchises are privately held restaurants.

Burger King was formerly headquartered in a nine-story office tower by the Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.{{cite web |url=http://www.bk.com/en/us/company-info/contact/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105061740/http://www.bk.com/en/us/company-info/contact/index.html |archive-date=January 5, 2010 |title=We're Listening |publisher=Burger King Corporation |access-date=January 31, 2009}}

On Monday July 8, 2002, 130 employees began working at the Burger King headquarters with the remainder moving in phases in August 2002. Prior to the moving to its current headquarters in 2002, Burger King had considered moving away from the Miami area to Texas; Miami-Dade County politicians and leaders lobbied against this, and Burger King stayed. Before 2002, the company's previous headquarters was located in a southern Dade County campus located on Old Cutler Boulevard in the Cutler census-designated place.{{cite web |url=http://www.burgerking.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970415114954/http://www.burgerking.com/ |archive-date=April 15, 1997 |title=Home Page |publisher=Burger King |access-date=October 2, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1215962&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |title=Cutler CDP, Florida |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121134116/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1215962&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-date=November 21, 2011 }}

In August 2014, the future of the company's Miami headquarters was again in doubt as reports surfaced that Burger King was in talks about buying the Canadian restaurant chain Tim Hortons. The merger between Burger King and Tim Hortons created the fast food company now known as Restaurant Brands International Inc.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2016-12-14/burger-king-s-so-so-tim-hortons-deal |title=That Tim Hortons Deal |date=December 14, 2016 |access-date=June 9, 2018 |work=Bloomberg News |last=Lachapelle |first=Tara |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612224403/https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2016-12-14/burger-king-s-so-so-tim-hortons-deal |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050512005446/en/Miami-Dade-Beacon-Council-Announces-Burger-King-World |access-date=June 9, 2018 |date=May 12, 2005 |title=The Miami-Dade Beacon Council Announces Burger King World Headquarters to Stay and Expand in Miami-Dade County |work=Business Wire |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140027/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050512005446/en/Miami-Dade-Beacon-Council-Announces-Burger-King-World |url-status=live }}

In 2016, Burger King signed a build-to-suit lease agreement on a new {{convert|150000|sqft|m2}} five-story headquarters building to be built at 5707 Blue Lagoon Drive, just down the street from its existing nine-story headquarters at 5505 Blue Lagoon Drive.{{cite news |last1=Bandell |first1=Brian |title=EXCLUSIVE: Burger King to build new HQ office in Miami-Dade |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2016/01/21/exclusive-burger-king-to-build-new-hq-office-in.html |access-date=October 22, 2023 |work=South Florida Business Journal |date=January 21, 2016 |url-access=subscription}} This was slightly smaller than the {{convert|200000|sqft|m2}} it was leasing in its current headquarters building at the time. In 2018, Burger King moved into its new headquarters at 5707 Blue Lagoon Drive.{{cite news |last1=Bandell |first1=Brian |title=Lennar signs deal for new headquarters in South Florida |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2019/09/20/lennar-signs-deal-for-new-miami-hq.html |access-date=October 22, 2023 |work=South Florida Business Journal |date=September 20, 2019|url-access=subscription}} As of August 2024, the Burger King system operates more than 18,700 locations in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbi.com/English/news/news-details/2024/Restaurant-Brands-International-Inc.-Reports-Second-Quarter-2024-Results/default.aspx|title=Restaurant Brands International Inc.|date=August 8, 2024|access-date=August 25, 2024|website=rbi.com}}

{{Main|Burger King franchises}}

File:Leicester Square Burger King.jpg, London, England|alt=A Burger King in London, England]]

When Burger King Corporation began franchising in 1959, it used a regional model where franchisees purchased the right to open stores within a geographic region.{{rp|117}}{{rp|64}} These franchise agreements granted BKC very little oversight control of its franchisees and resulted in issues of product quality control, store image and design, and operational procedures.{{rp|118}}{{rp|64}}

During the 1970s, structural deficiencies in Burger King's franchise system became increasingly problematic for Pillsbury. A major example was the relationship between Burger King and Louisiana-based franchisee Chart House,{{rp|64}} Burger King's largest franchisee group at the time with over 350 locations in the United States. The company's owners, William and James Trotter, made several moves to take over or acquire Burger King during the 1970s, all of which were spurned by Pillsbury. After the failed attempts to acquire the company, the relationship between Chart House and Burger King soured and eventually devolved into a lawsuit. Chart House eventually spun off its Burger King operations in the early 1980s into a holding company called DiversiFoods which, in turn, was acquired by Pillsbury in 1984 and absorbed into Burger King's operations.{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v19/ai_3930610/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708084445/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v19/ai_3930610/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |title=How Pillsbury 'stole' DiversiFoods for just $390 million |first=Rick |last=Telberg |work=Nation's Restaurant News |date=September 9, 1985 |access-date=August 24, 2007 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/12/business/diversifoods-net.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030031352/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A02EFDA1238F931A25751C1A962948260 |archive-date=October 30, 2007 |title=DiversiFoods Net |work=The New York Times |date=December 12, 1984 |access-date=August 24, 2007}}

As part of the franchising reorganization segment of Operation Phoenix, Donald N. Smith initiated a restructuring of future franchising agreements in 1978. Under this new franchise agreement, new owners were disallowed from living more than one hour from their restaurants – restricting them to smaller individuals or ownership groups and preventing large, multi-state corporations from owning franchises. Franchisees were also now prohibited from operating other chains, preventing them from diverting funds away from their Burger King holdings. This new policy effectively limited the size of franchisees and prevented larger franchises from challenging Burger King Corporation as Chart House had.{{rp|64}} Smith also sought to have BKC be the primary owner of new locations and rent or lease the restaurants to its franchises. This policy would allow the company to take over the operations of failing stores or evict those owners who would not conform to the company guidelines and policies. By 1988, parent company Pillsbury had relaxed many of Smith's changes, scaling back on construction of new locations, which resulted in stalled growth of the brand. Neglect of Burger King by new owner Grand Metropolitan and its successor Diageo further hurt the standing of the brand, causing significant financial damage to BK franchises and straining relations between the parties.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/04/15/cz_pb_0415burger.html |title=Burger King's Flame-Broiled Future |first=Phyllis |last=Berman |work=Forbes |date=April 15, 2003 |access-date=April 6, 2006 |archive-date=April 8, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408083702/http://www.forbes.com/2003/04/15/cz_pb_0415burger.html |url-status=live }}

File:Burger King Oaxaca Mexico.jpg of Oaxaca, Mexico|alt=A Burger King in Oaxaca, Mexico]]

By 2001 and after nearly 18 years of stagnant growth, the state of its franchises was beginning to affect the value of the company. One of the franchises most heavily affected by the lack of growth was the nearly 400-store AmeriKing Inc., one of the largest Burger King franchisees.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1039042295330836353 |title=Large Burger King Franchisee Files for Bankruptcy Protection |date=December 5, 2002 |access-date=June 9, 2018 |work=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142834/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1039042295330836353 |url-status=live }} By 2002, the franchise owner, which until this point had been struggling under a nearly US$300 million debt load and been shedding stores across the US, was forced to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/22/business/private-sector-a-fighter-for-burgers-and-fries.html?pagewanted=all |title=A Fighter for Burgers and Fries |first=Jo |last=Napolitano |work=The New York Times |date=December 22, 2002 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |archive-date=April 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430033912/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/22/business/private-sector-a-fighter-for-burgers-and-fries.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }} The failure of AmeriKing deeply affected the value of Burger King, and put negotiations between Diageo and the TPC Capital-led group on hold. The developments eventually forced Diageo to lower the total selling price of the chain by almost {{nowrap|$750 million}}. After the sale, newly appointed CEO Brad Blum initiated a program to help roughly 20 percent of its franchises, including its four largest, who were in financial distress, bankruptcy or had ceased operations altogether.{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-5925260_ITM |title=Burger King bolstering its many weak franchisees. |first=Elaine |last=Walker |publisher=Knight-Ridder |date=January 3, 2002 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121235540/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-5925260_ITM |archive-date=January 21, 2012 }} Partnering with California-based Trinity Capital, LLC, the company established the Franchisee Financial Restructuring Initiative, a program to address the financial issues facing BK's financially distressed franchisees. The initiative was designed to assist franchisees in restructuring their businesses to meet financial obligations, focus on restaurant operational excellence, reinvest in their operations, and return to profitability.{{cite press release |url=http://www.bison.com/press_burgerking_02032003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222175831/http://www.bison.com/press_burgerking_02032003 |archive-date=February 22, 2008 |title=Burger King Launches Franchisee Financial Restructuring Initiative |publisher=Burger King Corporation on Bison.com |date=February 3, 2003 |access-date=April 6, 2008}}

Individual franchisees took advantage of the AmeriKing failure; one of BK's regional owners, Miami-based Al Cabrera, purchased 130 stores located primarily in the Chicago and the upper mid-west region, from the failed company for a price of {{nowrap|$16 million}}, approximately 88 percent of their original value. The new company, which started out as Core Value Partners and eventually became Heartland Foods, also purchased 120 additional stores from distressed owners and revamped them. The resulting purchases made Cabrera the largest minority franchisee of Burger King, and Heartland one of the company's top franchises.{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_50_37/ai_111507745/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040902131714/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_50_37/ai_111507745/ |archive-date=September 2, 2004 |title=BK franchisee-led group buys 131 AmeriKing units |work=Nations Restaurant News |date=December 15, 2003 |access-date=April 12, 2008}} By 2006, the company was valued at over {{nowrap|$150 million}}, and was sold to New York–based GSO Capital Partners.{{cite web|url=http://franchise.business-opportunities.biz/2006/12/29/major-burger-king-franchisee-to-sell-240-restaurants/ |title=Major Burger King Franchisee To Sell 240 Restaurants |work=The Miami Herald |date=December 17, 2006 |access-date=April 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007091645/http://franchise.business-opportunities.biz/2006/12/29/major-burger-king-franchisee-to-sell-240-restaurants/ |archive-date=October 7, 2008 }} Other purchasers included a three-way group of NFL athletes Kevin Faulk, Marcus Allen, and Michael Strahan who collectively purchased 17 stores in the cities of Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia;{{cite news |url=http://archive.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/08/17/faulk_joins_other_black_athletes_to_buy_burger_king_franchises/ |title=Faulk joins other black athletes to buy Burger King franchises |first=Keith |last=Reed |work=The Boston Globe |date=August 17, 2007 |access-date=April 12, 2008 |archive-date=April 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424050504/http://archive.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/08/17/faulk_joins_other_black_athletes_to_buy_burger_king_franchises/ |url-status=live }} and Cincinnati-based franchisee Dave Devoy, who purchased 32 AmeriKing stores. After investing in new decor, equipment and staff retraining, many of the formerly failing stores showed growth approaching 20 percent.

As part of 3G's restructuring plan, the company decided to divest itself of its corporate owned locations by re-franchising them to private owners and become a 100% franchised operation by the end of 2013. The project, which began in April 2012, saw the company divest corporate-owned locations in Florida, Canada, Spain, Germany, and other regions.{{cite web|last=Taylor|first=Kate|title=Burger King's Franchising Efforts Pay Off Big in 3Q|url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229664|work=Entrepreneur Magazine|publisher=Burger King's Franchising Efforts Pay Off Big in 3Q|access-date=October 30, 2013|date=October 29, 2013|archive-date=October 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031233012/http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229664|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Dostal|first=Erin|title=Burger King sells 94 Canadian restaurants|url=http://nrn.com/latest-headlines/burger-king-sells-94-canadian-restaurants|work=Nation's Restaurant News|access-date=October 30, 2013|date=April 23, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107053236/http://nrn.com/latest-headlines/burger-king-sells-94-canadian-restaurants|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Burger King Divests German Stake|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/burger-king-divests-german-stake-183002971.html|work=Yahoo! Finance|publisher=Zaks|access-date=October 30, 2013|date=May 6, 2013|archive-date=November 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103060644/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/burger-king-divests-german-stake-183002971.html|url-status=live}} The move gave the company a Q3, 2013 profit of US$68.2 million over the same quarter, 2012 of US$6.6 million.

At the end of its 2013 fiscal year, Burger King was the second largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants in terms of global locations,{{rp|123}} behind industry bellwether McDonald's, which had 32,400 locations. At the end of 2014, Burger King ranked fourth among US food chains in terms of US sales, behind McDonald's, Starbucks, and Subway.{{cite web |url=https://www.qsrmagazine.com/reports/qsr50-2015-top-50-chart |title=The QSR 50 |work=QSR magazine |access-date=June 9, 2018 |date=2015 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140738/https://www.qsrmagazine.com/reports/qsr50-2015-top-50-chart |url-status=live |author1=Tory }} Burger King now has over 12,000 stores worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/worlds-largest-fast-food-chains |title=World's Largest Fast Food Chains |access-date=June 9, 2018 |work=Food & Wine |archive-date=November 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124003102/http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/worlds-largest-fast-food-chains |url-status=live }}

In January 2024, Restaurant Brands International, the owner of the brand, announced it would purchase the largest franchisee of the chain, Carrols Restaurant Group, for around $1 billion. At the time of the announcement, Carrols had 1,022 Burger King locations (along with 60 Popeyes locations). The goal was to remodel 600 of the restaurants, then sell them back to franchisees over five to seven years. The move represented a departure from the existing model of largely franchising locations.{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Burger King parent company acquires Carrols Restaurant Group |url=https://www.nrn.com/news/burger-king-parent-company-acquires-carrols-restaurant-group |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=Nation's Restaurant News |language=en}}{{Cite news |title= Burger King Owner to Acquire Franchisee Carrols for $1 Billion|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-16/burger-king-owner-to-acquire-franchisee-carrols-for-1-billion |access-date=January 16, 2024 |newspaper=Bloomberg|date=January 16, 2024 }}{{Cite web |last=Moriarty |first=Rick |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Burger King to buy Syracuse's Carrols Restaurant Group, its biggest U.S. franchisee, for $1 billion |url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2024/01/burger-king-to-buy-syracuses-carrols-restaurant-group-its-biggest-us-franchisee-for-1-billion.html |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=syracuse |language=en}}

{{See also|List of countries with Burger King franchises|Hungry Jack's}}

File:Burger King Paa Karl Johan.jpg, Oslo, Norway]]

While BK began its foray into locations outside of the continental United States in 1963 with a store in San Juan, Puerto Rico,{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/burger-king-corporation-and-caribbean-restaurants-llc-announce-pepsico-renewed-agreement-in-puerto-rico-76217542.html |title=Burger King Corporation and Caribbean Restaurants LLC Announce PepsiCo Renewed Agreement in Puerto Rico |publisher=Caribbean Restaurants LLC (Burger King Franchisee) |date=July 16, 2001 |access-date=November 2, 2010 |archive-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111083848/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/burger-king-corporation-and-caribbean-restaurants-llc-announce-pepsico-renewed-agreement-in-puerto-rico-76217542.html |url-status=live }} it did not have an international presence until several years later. Shortly after the acquisition of the chain by Pillsbury, it opened its first Canadian restaurant in Windsor, Ontario in 1969.{{rp|66}}{{cite press release|title=Burger King Canada Franchise |url=http://www.burgerking.ca/en/View.aspx?uid=TopMenu_Franchise |publisher=Burger King Corporation |access-date=October 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706170317/http://www.burgerking.ca/en/View.aspx?uid=TopMenu_Franchise |archive-date=July 6, 2011 }} Other international locations followed soon after, including Australia in 1971, with a restaurant in the Perth suburb of Innaloo, and Europe in 1975, with a restaurant in Madrid.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/01/1054406074309.html |title=Burger King slips into Hungry Jacks uniform |agency=Associated Press |work=the Sydney Morning Herald |date=June 2, 2003 |access-date=March 8, 2008 |archive-date=May 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502152247/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/01/1054406074309.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.telemadrid.es/noticias/madrid/noticia/burger-king-celebra-su-40-aniversario-en-espana |title=Burger King celebrates its 40th anniversary in Spain (translated) |access-date=June 9, 2018 |date=September 16, 2015 |work=Telemadrid |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141919/http://www.telemadrid.es/noticias/madrid/noticia/burger-king-celebra-su-40-aniversario-en-espana |url-status=live }} Beginning in 1982, BK and its franchisees began operating stores in several East Asian countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. Due to high competition, all of the Japanese locations were closed in 2001; however, BK reentered the Japanese market in June 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19106828 |title=Burger King back in Japan after 6-year hiatus |date=June 8, 2007 |access-date=June 9, 2018 |work=NBC News |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612153139/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19106828/ns/business-us_business/t/burger-king-back-japan-after--year-hiatus/ |url-status=live }} BK's Central and South American operations began in Mexico in the late 1970s and by the early 1980s in Caracas, Venezuela, Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. While Burger King lags behind McDonald's in international locations by over 12,000 stores, as of 2008 it had managed to become the largest chain in several countries including Mexico and Spain.{{cite web|url=http://knowledge.emory.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1097 |title=Burger King CEO John Chidsey on Innovation, Trust, and "The King" |work=Knowledge@Emory |publisher=Emory University |date=November 15, 2007 |access-date=March 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717042513/http://knowledge.emory.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1097 |archive-date=July 17, 2012}}

File:Burger King at Helsinki Central railway station.jpg in Helsinki, Finland]]

The company divides its international operations into three segments; the Middle East, Europe and Africa division (EMEA), Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).{{rp|5}} In each of these regions, Burger King has established several subsidiaries to develop strategic partnerships and alliances to expand into new territories. In its EMEA group, Burger King's Switzerland-based subsidiary Burger King Europe GmbH is responsible for the licensing and development of BK franchises in those regions.{{rp|5, Exhibit 21:1}}{{cite press release|url=http://investor.bk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87140&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=972760&highlight= |title=The Burger King Brand Enters Poland |publisher=Burger King Corporation |date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011235839/http://investor.bk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87140&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=972760&highlight= |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }} In APAC region, the Singapore-based BK AsiaPac, Pte. Ltd. business unit handles franchising for East Asia, the Asian subcontinent and all Oceanic territories.{{rp|6, Exhibit 21:1}}{{cite press release|url=http://investor.bk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87140&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1215693&highlight= |title=The Burger King Brand Positioned for Growth in Taiwan |publisher=Burger King Corporation |date=October 2, 2008 |access-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818152207/http://investor.bk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87140&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1215693&highlight= |archive-date=August 18, 2011 }} The LAC region includes Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands and has no centralized operations group.{{rp|6, Exhibit 21:1}}

File:Skopje Airport - Burger King restaurant (2018) (cropped).jpg, North Macedonia]]

Australia is the only country in which Burger King does not operate under its own name.{{rp|6}} When the company set about establishing operations down under in 1971, it found that its business name was already trademarked by a takeaway food shop in Adelaide.{{cite journal |title=Where's the Beef? Why Burger King Is Hungry Jack's in Australia and Other Complications in Building a Global Franchise Brand |first1=Andrew |last1=Terry |first2=Heather |last2=Forrest |journal=Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business, 2008 |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=171–214 |issn=0196-3228 |year=2008}} As a result, Burger King provided the Australian franchisee, Jack Cowin, with a list of possible alternative names derived from pre-existing trademarks already registered by Burger King and its then corporate parent Pillsbury, that could be used to name the Australian restaurants. Cowin selected the "Hungry Jack" brand name, one of Pillsbury's US pancake mixture products, and slightly changed the name to a possessive form by adding an apostrophe "s" forming the new name Hungry Jack's.{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2003 |title=Burger King Re-flags Australian Stores |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/eating-drinking-places/4275422-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012002357/http://allbusiness.com/retail-trade/eating-drinking-places/4275422-1.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |publisher=AllBusiness.com}} After the expiration of the trademark in the late 1990s, Burger King unsuccessfully tried to introduce the brand to the continent. After losing a lawsuit filed against it by Hungry Jack's ownership, the company ceded the territory to its franchisee. Hungry Jack's is now the only Burger King brand in Australia; Cowin's company Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd. is the master franchise and thus is now responsible for oversight of the operations that country with Burger King only providing administrative and advertising support to ensure a common marketing scheme for the company and its products.

File:20211126 Burger King at Living Mall.jpg, China|alt=A Burger King in Zhengzhou, China]]

Over a 10-year period starting in 2008, Burger King predicted 80 percent of its market share would be driven by foreign expansion, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Indian subcontinent regional markets.{{cite web|url=http://www.euromonitor.com/Burger_King_aiming_for_Asian_expansion |title=Burger King aiming for Asian expansion |first=Nicola |last=Becker |work=Euromonitor International |date=September 4, 2007 |access-date=March 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010042854/http://www.euromonitor.com/Burger_King_aiming_for_Asian_expansion |archive-date=October 10, 2007 }} While the TPG-led group continued BK's international expansion by announcing plans to open new franchise locations in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Brazil, the company plan is focusing on the three largest markets – India, China, and Japan.{{cite press release|url=http://investor.bk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87140&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=972760&highlight= |title=The Burger King Brand Enters Poland |publisher=Burger King Corporation |date=March 17, 2007 |access-date=August 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011235839/http://investor.bk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87140&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=972760&highlight= |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=17516 |title=Burger King Mulls Franchises |first=Maria |last=Levitov |work=The St. Petersburg Times |date=May 5, 2006 |access-date=August 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925045221/http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=17516 |archive-date=September 25, 2006 }}{{cite press release|url=http://www.ameinfo.com/40791.html |title=Burger King increases number of restaurants in UAE |publisher=Hana International Company Ltd. |date=March 29, 2007 |access-date=August 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050419205238/http://www.ameinfo.com/40791.html |archive-date=April 19, 2005 }}{{cite press release|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_March_29/ai_n18766980/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030142322/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_March_29/ai_n18766980 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 30, 2007 |title=Burger King To Expand in Egypt |publisher=Burger King corporation |date=March 29, 2007 |access-date=August 25, 2007}} The company plans to add over 250 stores in these Asian territories, as well as other places such as Macau, by the end of 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=adpnoe2.JOjg&refer=emergingmarkets |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221082546/https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=adpnoe2.JOjg&refer=emergingmarkets |archive-date=February 21, 2012 |title=Burger King May Add 250 Asia Stores Within Five Years |first1=Bernard |last1=Lo |first2=Ting Ting |last2=Ng |work=Bloomberg News |date=June 7, 2007 |access-date=August 25, 2007}} Its expansion into the Indian market has the company at a competitive disadvantage with other fast food restaurants such as KFC because of the aversion of the country's large Hindu majority to beef. BK hopes to use their non-beef products, such as their TenderCrisp and TenderGrill chicken sandwiches, as well as other products like mutton sandwiches and veggie sandwiches, to help them overcome this hurdle to expand in that country.{{cite news |title=Burger King arrives in India, all set to open first store in Delhi |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/burger-king-arrives-in-india-all-set-to-open-first-store-in-delhi/story-uOzBx32u2CmQjBcqESHWdP.html |newspaper=Hindustan Times |agency=Reuters |access-date=November 9, 2014 |date=November 8, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133106/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/burger-king-arrives-in-india-all-set-to-open-first-store-in-delhi/story-uOzBx32u2CmQjBcqESHWdP.html |url-status=live }} 3G has reported that it will continue with the plans to grow globally, even ramping up the planned expansion to help increase their return on investment.{{rp|1}} It is expected that 3G Brazilian-based management connections in the region may help Burger King expand in Brazil and Latin America, where it has been having problems finding acceptable franchisees.{{rp|2}}{{cite news |last1=Jargon |first1=Julie |last2=Chou |first2=Gina |title=BK's Strategy: Play Catch-Up |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704206804575467370505104544 |access-date=January 19, 2011 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=September 3, 2010 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223350/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704206804575467370505104544 |url-status=live }}

In December 2020, Burger King India went in for an initial public offering (IPO) on the BSE and NSE in India. The IPO was subscribed over 150 times.{{cite news |author=|title=Burger King India IPO subscribed over 150 times |url=https://www.livemint.com/market/ipo/burger-king-india-ipo-subscription-allocation-status-listing-details-11607083948454.html |access-date=December 10, 2020 |work=mint |date=December 4, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201136/https://www.livemint.com/market/ipo/burger-king-india-ipo-subscription-allocation-status-listing-details-11607083948454.html |url-status=live }} The stock opened at {{INR|112.5}} per share on December 14, nearly double the IPO price of {{INR|60}}, and closed at {{INR|135}}.{{Cite web|first=Michelle|last=Toh|title=Burger King's India franchise soars 125% on stock market debut|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/investing/burger-king-india-ipo-shares-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=December 26, 2020|website=CNN|date=December 14, 2020|archive-date=December 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226094519/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/investing/burger-king-india-ipo-shares-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}}

{{Clear}}

The welfare of animals used in Burger King products has been a subject of company activity, as well as a source of controversy.

In 2001, Burger King entered into an agreement with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) following a corporate campaign regarding the treatment of poultry by its suppliers. The agreement established a framework for implementing animal welfare standards, including third-party compliance monitoring.{{Cite web |last=Solomon |first=Matt |date=2023-06-05 |title=That Time Richard Pryor Flame-Broiled Burger King for Unethical Animal Treatment |url=https://www.cracked.com/article_38262_that-time-richard-pryor-flame-broiled-burger-king-for-unethical-animal-treatment.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Cracked.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2010-06-24 |title=Victory: PETA Wins 'Murder King' Campaign! |url=https://www.peta.org/about-peta/learn-about-peta/success-stories/farmed-animal-campaigns/murderking/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=PETA |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Winter |first=Greg |date=2001-06-29 |title=Burger King Pledges Humane Use of Animals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/29/business/burger-king-pledges-humane-use-of-animals.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In 2006, PETA, acting as a shareholder in Burger King's parent company, brought a resolution before the board advocating for the adoption of controlled atmosphere killing (CAK) as a more humane and cost-effective slaughter method. In response, Burger King announced new supplier policies in 2007, prioritizing CAK and committing to incremental use of cage-free eggs and crate-free pork. These changes were recognized by advocacy groups as establishing a higher industry standard for animal welfare compliance.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Andrew |date=2007-03-28 |title=Burger King Shifts Policy on Animals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/business/28burger.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In 2017, Burger King made a commitment they said would "require chicken suppliers to breed only higher-welfare strains of chickens, reduce the stocking density of the birds, improve light levels and litter quality inside barns, and use controlled atmosphere stunning to render the birds unconscious before slaughter, dramatically improving slaughter methods and the birds' living conditions;"{{Cite news |last=Judkis |first=Maura |date=2017-03-29 |title=Burger King promises to clean up its chicken act |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/food/wp/2017/03/29/burger-king-promises-to-clean-up-its-chicken-act/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} however, a 2023 report from Compassion in World Farming, an animal advocacy organization, said that Burger King had not reported their progress in complying with the commitment, raising fears among animal advocates that the commitment was not being met.Compassion in World Farming. (2023). ChickenTrack 2023 Report. Compassion in World Farming. Retrieved from https://www.compassioninfoodbusiness.com/key-tools-for-success/chickentrack-2023

Burger King has been praised by animal advocates for the introduction of a Whopper made with a plant-based meat alternative from Impossible Foods{{Cite web |last=Kart |first=Jeff |title=Animal Welfare Org Says Plant-Based Fast Food Burgers Are Saving 250,000 Animals A Year |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2019/12/19/animal-welfare-org-says-plant-based-fast-food-burgers-are-saving-250000-animals-a-year/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}} and for the introduction of vegan menu items like the "Vegan Royale" in the UK.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Rachel |date=2021-04-26 |title=Burger King UK launches Vegan Royale as plant-based Rebel Whopper returns to menu |url=https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/news/burger-king-launches-vegan-royale/#google_vignette |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Vegan Food & Living |language=en-GB}}

Controversies and disputes have arisen with groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), governmental and social agencies, and unions and trade groups over various topics. These situations have touched on legal and moral concepts such as animal rights, corporate responsibility,{{cite news |date=May 17, 2007 |title=Burger King responds to trans-fat cooking oil suit |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/burger-king-responds-to-trans-fat-cooking-oil-suit-1.241652 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329193228/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20070517/burgerking_transfat_070517/ |archive-date=March 29, 2012 |access-date=September 28, 2007 |publisher=CTV |agency=Associated Press}} ethics,{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Andrew |date=May 24, 2008 |title=Burger King Grants Raise to Pickers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/24/business/24farm.html?_r=1&sq=Burger%20King%20Tomatoes&st=nyt&oref=slogin&scp=1&pagewanted=print |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425043627/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/24/business/24farm.html?_r=1&sq=Burger%20King%20Tomatoes&st=nyt&oref=slogin&scp=1&pagewanted=print |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |access-date=May 25, 2008 |work=The New York Times}} and social justice. In many of the cases, the situations raised legal questions, dealt with legal compliance, or resulted in legal remedies such as changes in contractual procedure or binding agreements between parties. The resolutions to these legal matters have often altered the way the company interacts and negotiates contracts with its suppliers and franchisees, or how it does business with the public.{{cite court|litigants=Scheck v. Burger King|vol=756|reporter=F. Supp|opinion=543|court=11th Cir.|year=1991|url=}}{{cite news |last=Holton |first=Lisa |date=Jan 1998 |title=Mathay Inc.: BK franchisee finally seeing light at the end of a long legal struggle |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n4_v32/ai_20199552 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060401041819/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n4_v32/ai_20199552 |archive-date=April 1, 2006 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |publisher=Nations Restaurant News}}

One example is an issue involving members of the Islamic faith over the interpretation of the Muslim version of canon law, Shariah, regarding the promotional artwork on a dessert package in the United Kingdom raised issues of cultural sensitivity,{{Cite web |last=Innes |first=John |date=September 7, 2005 |title=Burger King recalls 'sacrilegious' desserts |url=http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Burger-King-recalls-sacrilegious-desserts.2662082.jp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102124444/http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Burger-King-recalls-sacrilegious-desserts.2662082.jp |archive-date=January 2, 2009 |access-date=May 10, 2008 |website=The Scotsman |location=UK}} and, with the former example, posed a larger question about what companies must do to ensure the smooth operation of their businesses in the communities they serve.

{{Main|Burger King legal issues|Burger King (Mattoon, Illinois)|Burger King (Alberta)|Burger King Corporation v Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd}}

File:Mattoon Burger King.jpg, originally owned by the Hoots family. This location was one subject of major litigation by Burger King.|alt=The Hoot's family Burger King in Mattoon, Illinois, unrelated to Burger King Corporation]]

Burger King has been involved in several legal disputes and cases, as both plaintiff and defendant, in the years since its founding in 1954. Depending on the ownership and executive staff at the time of these incidents, the company's responses to these challenges have ranged from a conciliatory dialog with its critics and litigants, to a more aggressive opposition with questionable tactics and negative consequences.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/08/nyregion/how-fat-burger-king-to-post-answers.html?sq=Burger+Center+for+Science+in+the+Public+Interest&scp=1&st=cse |title=How Fat? Burger King to Post Answers |first=Trish |last=Hall |work=The New York Times |date=August 8, 1991 |access-date=May 30, 2008 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122060120/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/08/nyregion/how-fat-burger-king-to-post-answers.html?sq=Burger+Center+for+Science+in+the+Public+Interest&scp=1&st=cse |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.news-press.com/article/20080704/NEWS01/107040011/1014/business |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129162959/http://www.news-press.com/article/20080704/NEWS01/107040011/1014/business |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |title=Burger King gets farm workers petition; Daughter of Burger King VP says dad wrote anti-coalition postings |first=Amy |last=Bennett Williams |work=The Fort Myers News-Press |date=April 28, 2008 |access-date=April 28, 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.news-press.com/article/20080704/NEWS01/107050001 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129172359/http://www.news-press.com/article/20080704/NEWS01/107050001 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |title=Tomato pickers feeling spied on |first=Amy |last=Bennett Williams |work=The Fort Myers News-Press |date=April 12, 2008 |access-date=June 9, 2008 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nrn.com/article/burger-king-relents-agrees-extra-penny-pound-payment-aid-fla-tomato-pickers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121201702/http://nrn.com/article/burger-king-relents-agrees-extra-penny-pound-payment-aid-fla-tomato-pickers |archive-date=January 21, 2012 |title=Burger King relents, agrees to extra penny-per-pound payment to aid Fla. tomato pickers |first=Catherine |last=Cobb |work=Nation's Restaurant News |date=June 2, 2008 |access-date=August 14, 2010}} The company's response to these various issues has drawn praise{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/business/28burger.html |title=Burger King Shifts Policy on Animals |first=Andrew |last=Martin |work=The New York Times |date=March 28, 2007 |access-date=March 9, 2008 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308130131/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/business/28burger.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,261903,00.html |title=Burger King Offers Cage-Free Food |agency=Associated Press |work=Fox News |date=March 28, 2007 |access-date=August 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111073015/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,261903,00.html |archive-date=November 11, 2007 |url-status=dead }} as well as, in some instances, suggestions of political appeasement.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/arts/20conn.html?scp=1&sq=Burger+King+Islam+Ice+Cream&st=nyt |title=History Illuminates the Rage of Muslims |first=Edward |last=Rothestien |work=The New York Times |date=February 20, 2006 |access-date=June 4, 2008 |archive-date=November 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114103428/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/20/arts/20conn.html?scp=1&sq=Burger+King+Islam+Ice+Cream&st=nyt |url-status=live }}

Legal decisions from suits involving Burger King have set contractual law precedents in regards to long-arm statutes, the limitations of franchise agreements, and ethical business practices.{{cite web |date=May 20, 1985 |title=471 U.S. 462 |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/471/462.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828212829/http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/471/462.html |archive-date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=March 4, 2008 |work=Findlaw}}{{cite book |last1=Teply |first1=Larry L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r7Psaabe_U8C&q=Burger+King+v.+Rudzewicz&pg=PA244 |title=Cases, Text, and Problems on Civil Procedure |last2=Whitten |first2=Ralph U. |publisher=Wm. S. Hein Publishing |others=Denis F. McLaughlin |year=2002 |isbn=0-8377-3725-7 |pages=244–258 |access-date=September 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123073141/https://books.google.com/books?id=r7Psaabe_U8C&q=Burger+King+v.+Rudzewicz&pg=PA244 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |url-status=live}} Many of these decisions have helped define general business dealings that continue to shape the entire marketplace.{{cite book |last1=Halpern |first1=Sheldon W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZATG6vcJxQ0C&q=burger+king+of+florida+inc+v+hoots&pg=PA354 |title=Fundamentals of United States Intellectual Property Law: Copyright, Patent and Trademark |last2=Nard |first2=Craig Allen |last3=Port |first3=Kenneth L. |publisher=Kluwer Law International |year=2006 |isbn=90-411-2599-X |location=Alphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands |page=354, text and footnote 326}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite journal |last=Lee |first=Mona A. |date=Fall 1993 |title=Burger King's Bifurcated Test For Personal Jurisdiction: The Reasonableness Inquiry Impedes Judicial Economy And Threatens A Defendant's Due Process Rights |journal=Temple Law Review |publisher=Temple University of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education |volume=66 |page=945}}{{cite journal |last=Welkowitz |first=David S. |date=October 1987 |title=Beyond Burger King: The Federal Interest In Personal Jurisdiction |journal=Fordham Law Review |publisher=Fordham Law School |volume=56 |issue=1}}

A trademark dispute involving the owners of an unrelated restaurant also named Burger King in Mattoon, Illinois, led to a federal lawsuit. As a result, the larger Burger King chain was ordered not to build any franchises within a 20-mile radius of the Mattoon Burger King.{{cite web |url=http://illinoistimes.com/article-619-the-burger-king-and-queen-of-mattoon.html |title=The burger king and queen of Mattoon |first=John |last=Jermaine |work=The Illinois Times |date=November 20, 2003 |access-date=September 26, 2007 |archive-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229094356/https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/the-burger-king-and-queen-of-mattoon/Content?oid=11449463 |url-status=live }} An existing trademark held by a shop of the same name in South Australia forced the company to change its name in Australia to "Hungry Jack's",{{cite news|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/eating-drinking-places/4275422-1.html |title=Burger King Re-flags Australian Stores |agency=Restaurant Business News |publisher=AllBusiness.com |date=May 30, 2003 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012002357/http://allbusiness.com/retail-trade/eating-drinking-places/4275422-1.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }} while another state trademark in Texas forced the company to abandon its signature product, the Whopper, in several counties around San Antonio.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eVmD3FAG3zgC&q=Fundamentals+of+Franchising |title=Fundamentals of Franchising |first=Rupert M. |last=Barkoff |publisher=American Bar Association |date=January 25, 2005 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |isbn=1-59031-409-3 |page=23 |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212045408/https://books.google.com/books?id=eVmD3FAG3zgC&q=Fundamentals+of+Franchising |url-status=live }} The company was only able to enter northern Alberta, in Canada, in 1995, after it paid the founders of another chain named Burger King.{{cite news |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Burger+King+Corp.+announces+plans+to+expand+in+Edmonton,+Alberta.-a017271669 |title=Burger King announces plans to expand in Edmonton, Alberta |agency=Business Wire |date=August 28, 1995 |access-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-date=October 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002225115/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Burger+King+Corp.+announces+plans+to+expand+in+Edmonton,+Alberta.-a017271669 |url-status=live }}

Further controversies have occurred during the company's expansion in the Middle East. The opening of a Burger King location in Ma'aleh Adumim, an Israeli settlement in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, led to a breach of contract dispute between Burger King and its Israeli franchise due to the hotly contested international dispute over the legality of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories in accordance to international law. The controversy eventually erupted into a geopolitical dispute involving Muslim and Jewish groups on multiple continents over the application of, and adherence to, international law.{{cite news |url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/11537/dumping-west-bank-store-puts-burger-king-in-a-pickle/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205091033/http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/11939/edition_id/230/format/html/displaystory.html |archive-date=February 5, 2008 |title=Dumping West Bank store puts Burger King in a pickle |first=Julia |last=Goldman |work=The Jewish News Weekly |date=September 1, 1999 |access-date=October 1, 2007}}{{cite news|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/middle-east/israel/394208-1.html |title=Jews Plan to Boycott Burger King |agency=Israel Faxx news report |publisher=Israel Faxx |date=August 30, 1999 |access-date=June 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102121623/http://www.allbusiness.com/middle-east/israel/394208-1.html |archive-date=January 2, 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/middle-east/israel/711850-1.html |title=U.S. Muslims Call For Burger King Boycott |first=Candice |last=Williams |publisher=Israel Faxx |date=July 7, 2007 |access-date=June 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102114957/http://www.allbusiness.com/middle-east/israel/711850-1.html |archive-date=January 2, 2009 }} The case eventually elicited reactions from the members of the 22-nation Arab League. The Islamic countries within the League made a joint threat to the company of legal sanctions including the revocation of Burger King's business licenses within the member states' territories.{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/eating-drinking-places/4284932-1.html |title=Middle East Muddle |first=Megan |last=Steintrager |work=Nations Restaurant News |date=November 5, 2000 |access-date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102151035/http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/eating-drinking-places/4284932-1.html |archive-date=January 2, 2009 }}{{Clear}}

On April 9, 2019, Nations Restaurant News reported that Burger King filed a lawsuit on Fritz Management LLC to remove Burger King trademarks from 37 units in South Texas after unsanitary conditions were found at a restaurant in Harlingen, Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/burger-king-sues-pull-trademarks-37-texas-units|last=Ruggless|first=Ron|date=April 9, 2019|title=Burger King sues to pull trademarks from 37 Texas units|work=Nation's Restaurant News|access-date=April 10, 2019|archive-date=April 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410123928/https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/burger-king-sues-pull-trademarks-37-texas-units|url-status=live}} In May 2019, the lawsuit was settled with the franchisee, Fritz Management (a subsidiary of Sun Holdings Inc), keeping the trademarks on all 37 units.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/burger-king-texas-franchisee-settle-lawsuit|last=Ruggless|first=Ron|date=May 16, 2019|title=Burger King, Texas franchisee settle lawsuit|work=Nation's Restaurant News|access-date=May 27, 2019|archive-date=May 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527221415/https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/burger-king-texas-franchisee-settle-lawsuit|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.telemundo40.com/noticias/destacados/Burger-King-demanda-a-franquicia-local-Fritz-Management-LLC-Guillermo-Perales-reportaje-Telemundo-40-Investiga-insalubridad-508399741.html|date=May 2, 2019|title=Franchise will continue to operate Burger King after reaching an amicable agreement|work=Telemundo 40|language=es|access-date=May 27, 2019|archive-date=May 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527221410/https://www.telemundo40.com/noticias/destacados/Burger-King-demanda-a-franquicia-local-Fritz-Management-LLC-Guillermo-Perales-reportaje-Telemundo-40-Investiga-insalubridad-508399741.html|url-status=live}}

On November 19, 2019, a lawsuit was filed by a vegan from Atlanta, Georgia against Burger King for allegedly failing to clearly disclose that Impossible Whopper burgers were heated on the same grill as their beef burgers.{{Cite web|title=Vegan sues Burger King for cooking Impossible Whopper on meat grill|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6187629/impossible-whopper-burger-king-meat-lawsuit/|last=Elliott|first=Josh K.|date=November 19, 2019|website=Global News|access-date=June 1, 2020|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207211731/https://globalnews.ca/news/6187629/impossible-whopper-burger-king-meat-lawsuit/|url-status=live}} The lawsuit was dismissed.{{cite news |title=Burger King wins dismissal of vegans' lawsuit over Impossible Whopper |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rstrnt-brnd-burger-king-impossible-wh/burger-king-wins-dismissal-of-vegans-lawsuit-over-impossible-whopper-idUSKCN24M340 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |work=Reuters |date=July 21, 2020 |language=en}}

On March 28, 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Burger King, alleging the fast food chain falsely advertised the Whopper to "look about 35% bigger in its advertising than it is in reality".{{Cite web |title=Burger King sued by customers who claim Whopper is smaller than advertised |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/burger-king-sued-whopper-false-advertising/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=CBS News |date=April 5, 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Burger King accused of false advertising in lawsuit alleging Whoppers are too small |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/burger-king-false-advertising-lawsuit-whopper-burgers-rcna22916 |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=NBC News |date=April 4, 2022 |language=en}} On May 5, 2025, Federal Judge Roy Altman allowed the case to proceed, stating the claims may reasonably suggest consumers were misled and that Florida law permits such misrepresentation suits without a special relationship. Burger King argued that differences between ads and actual burgers are typical of handmade food and standard marketing practices.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-07 |title=Judge allows lawsuit over Burger King's Whopper ads to move forward |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/judge-allows-lawsuit-burger-kings-whopper-ads-move-forward-rcna205304 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

Burger King has two in-house national charitable organizations and programs. One is the Have It Your Way Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit (501(c)(3)) corporation with multiple focuses on hunger alleviation, disease prevention and community education through scholarship programs at colleges in the U.S.{{cite web |url=http://www.bk.com/companyinfo/community/hiywfoundation.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027124943/http://www.bk.com/companyinfo/community/hiywfoundation.aspx |archive-date=October 27, 2007 |title=the HIYW foundation |publisher=Burger King Corporation |access-date=September 26, 2007 }} The other charitable organization is the McLamore Foundation, also a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation that provides scholarships to students in the U.S. and its territories.{{cite web |url=http://www.bk.com/companyinfo/community/mclamore.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027125847/http://www.bk.com/companyinfo/community/mclamore.aspx |archive-date=October 27, 2007 |title=the McLamore Foundation |publisher=Burger King Corporation |access-date=September 26, 2007 }}

In various regions across the United States, Burger King and its franchises have aligned themselves with several charitable organizations that support research and treatment of juvenile cancer. Each year, these coalitions hold a fund raising drive called "A Chance for Kids", in which Burger King restaurants sell lottery-style scratch cards for $1. Each card produces a winning prize that is usually a food or beverage product, but includes (rarer) items such as shopping sprees or trips. In the Northeast, BK has affiliated itself with the Major League Baseball team the Boston Red Sox and its charitable foundation, the Jimmy Fund. The group runs the contest in Boston. In the New York City area, it operates the contest in association with the Burger King Children's Charities of Metro New York and the New York Yankees. Funds raised in these areas go to support the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, located in Boston.{{cite web|url=http://www.jimmyfund.org/cor/special/burger/default.html |title=Burger King A Chance for Kids |publisher=The Jimmy Fund |date=July 1, 2007 |access-date=September 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011193553/http://jimmyfund.org/cor/special/burger/default.html |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.jimmyfund.org/abo/press/pressreleases/2002/072602b.asp |title=Burger King Children's Charities of Metro New York to help Small Fries become Large Fries |work=The Jimmy Fund |date=July 26, 2002 |access-date=March 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026032423/http://www.jimmyfund.org/abo/press/pressreleases/2002/072602b.asp |archive-date=October 26, 2007 }} In Nebraska, the company is affiliated with the Liz's Legacy Cancer Fund "BK Beat Cancer for Kids" program at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.{{cite web |url=http://www.helpbeatcancerforkids.com/ |title=BK Beat Cancer for Kids |publisher=University of Nebraska Medical Center |access-date=March 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810102227/http://www.helpbeatcancerforkids.com/ |archive-date=August 10, 2009}} In the Pittsburgh region, it funded the establishment of the Burger King Cancer Caring Center, a support organization for the families and friends of cancer patients.{{cite web|url=http://www.cancercaring.org/aboutbkccc.html |title=Burger King Cancer Caring Center |access-date=September 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061223172553/http://www.cancercaring.org/aboutbkccc.html |archive-date=December 23, 2006 }}

{{Main|Burger King products|List of Burger King products}}

File:Whopper.jpg sandwich, Burger King's signature product|alt=A Whopper sandwich]]

When the predecessor of Burger King first opened in Jacksonville in 1953, its menu consisted predominantly of basic hamburgers, French fries, soft drinks, milkshakes, and desserts. After being acquired by its Miami, Florida, franchisees and renamed to its current moniker in 1954, BK began expanding the breadth of its menu by adding the Whopper sandwich in 1957. This quarter-pound ({{convert|4|oz|g|abbr=on}}) hamburger was created by Burger King's new owners James McLamore and David Edgerton as a way to differentiate BK from other burger outlets at the time.{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n32_v30/ai_18609870/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116155552/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n32_v30/ai_18609870/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |title=BK co-founder McLamore dead at 70 |last=Carlino |first=Bill |date=August 19, 1996 |work=Nation's Restaurant News |access-date=January 25, 2010 }} Since its inception, the Whopper has become synonymous with Burger King and has become the focus of much of its advertising.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/article/SB120244090812952965-email.html |title=Hey, No Whopper on the Menu?! |last=Vranica |first=Suzanne |date=February 8, 2008 |work=The Wall Street Journal |pages=B3 |location=New York city |access-date=October 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417022111/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120244090812952965-email.html |archive-date=April 17, 2009 }} The company even named its new kiosk-style restaurants Whopper Bars.{{cite news|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-03-09-whopper-bar_N.htm|title=Burger King to open first Whopper Bar|date=March 9, 2009|work=USA Today|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=October 21, 2009|archive-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026144907/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-03-09-whopper-bar_N.htm|url-status=live}}

The menu component of Donald Smith's Operation Phoenix was initiated in 1978 and led to the addition of the Burger King Specialty Sandwich line in 1979. The new product line significantly expanded the breadth of the BK menu with many non-hamburger sandwiches, including new chicken and fish offerings. The new Specialty Sandwich line was one of the first attempts to target a specific demographic, in this case, adults 18–34, who would be willing to spend more on a higher quality product.{{rp|119}} One of Smith's other significant contributions to the menu was the addition of a breakfast product line, which until this time was not a market Burger King had entered. Besides the addition of the Croissan'Wich in 1983, the breakfast menu remained almost identical to the McDonald's offerings until a menu revamp in 1985. This expansion introduced BK's "AM Express" product line, which added new products such as French toast sticks and mini-muffins.{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v20/ai_4468112/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116155403/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v20/ai_4468112/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |title=BK expands breakfast line, marketing command |work=Nation's Restaurant News |date=September 1, 1986 |publisher=BNet.com |access-date=February 15, 2010 }}

As the company expanded both inside and outside the US, it introduced localized versions of its products that conform to regional tastes and cultural or religious beliefs. International variations add ingredients such as teriyaki or beetroot and fried egg to the Whopper;{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsgreatesthamburgers.com/index/content/id/8 |title=the History of Burgers |publisher=worldsgreatesthamburgers.com |access-date=March 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215124912/http://www.worldsgreatesthamburgers.com/index/content/id/8 |archive-date=February 15, 2008 }} beer in Germany, Italy, and Spain; and halal or kosher products in the Middle East and Israel.{{cite web|url=http://www.halaljournal.com/artman/publish_php/article_894.php |title=Prima-Agri to Produce Halal Beef for Regional Fast Food Chains |work=The Halal Journal |date=October 10, 2006 |access-date=October 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013163818/http://halaljournal.com/artman/publish_php/article_894.php |archive-date=October 13, 2007}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20040802080316 |title=Burger King UAE launches the king of all burgers across the UAE |publisher=Olayan |date=May 5, 2004 |access-date=October 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012055425/http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20040802080316 |archive-date=October 12, 2007 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/wholesale-trade/merchant-wholesalers-nondurable/621140-1.html |title=The Kosher Whopper Boosts Burger Sales in Israel. |publisher=AllBusiness.com |date=July 1, 2000 |access-date=October 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106080120/http://www.allbusiness.com/wholesale-trade/merchant-wholesalers-nondurable/621140-1.html |archive-date=November 6, 2007 }} To generate additional sales, BK will occasionally introduce limited time offers (LTOs) that are versions of its core products, or new products intended for either long or short term sales. Items such as the Texas Double Whopper and various sandwiches made with mushrooms and Swiss cheese have been rotated in and out of its menu for several years,{{cite press release|url=http://investor.bk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87140&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=948728&highlight= |title=Burger King Restaurants Spice Things Up with Introduction of the Texas Double Whopper Sandwich, Extreme Spicy TenderCrisp Chicken Sandwich, Shake 'Em Up Spicy Fries |publisher=Burger King Corporation |date=September 2004 |access-date=January 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818152343/http://investor.bk.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87140&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=948728&highlight= |archive-date=August 18, 2011 }}{{cite news |title=The Menaissance |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1202949,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306212249/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1202949,00.html |archive-date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=January 5, 2011 |magazine=Time |url-status=dead |date=June 11, 2006}} while products such as its 1993 Meatloaf Specialty Sandwich offering and accompanying limited table service, along with special dinner platters, failed to generate interest and were discontinued.{{cite news |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50F14F83E550C7B8EDDA10894DF494D81 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030031723/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50F14F83E550C7B8EDDA10894DF494D81 |archive-date=October 30, 2007 |title=As Business Gets Lean, a Big King Dares Big Mac |first=Glenn |last=Collins |work=The New York Times |date=August 28, 1997 |access-date=August 21, 2007 }}{{cite news |first=Gerald |last=Etter |date=September 23, 1992 |title=Burger King Delivers |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB2A3E145CB415C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. |access-date=August 21, 2007 |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024073112/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB2A3E145CB415C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. |url-status=live }}

File:BurgerKingFood.jpg, a Whopper Jr., a drink, and packets of Heinz ketchup|alt=A Burger King value meal]]

In order to appeal to as many demographic groups as possible and better compete with its competitor, Wendy's, Burger King added a multi-tiered value menu in 1993 with items priced at 99¢, US$1.99 and $2.99. The additions, part of then CEO James Adamson's back-to-basics program called Operation Phoenix, were an attempt to add not only a value menu, but also a line of value meals.{{cite news|title=Burger King plans value-menu rollout |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n36_v27/ai_14399475/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116163116/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_n36_v27/ai_14399475/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |work=Nation's Restaurant News |publisher=BNet.com |agency=Gale Group |access-date=February 27, 2011 |date=September 13, 1993 }} The tiered menu was replaced with a more standard value menu in 1998 while the value meals were separated into their own menu segment.{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/burger-king-debuts-new-99-cent-great-tastes-menu-77117467.html |title=Burger King Debuts New 99¢ 'Great Tastes' Menu |publisher=Burger King Corporation |date=March 17, 1998 |access-date=October 9, 2007 |archive-date=September 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915025817/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/burger-king-debuts-new-99-cent-great-tastes-menu-77117467.html |url-status=live }} This value menu featured seven products: Whopper Jr., five-piece Chicken Tenders, a bacon cheeseburger, medium-sized French fries, medium soft drink, medium onion rings, and a small milkshake. In 2002 and 2006, BK revamped its value menu, adding and removing several different products such as chili and its Rodeo Cheeseburger.{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2002/09/09/daily63.html |title=Burger King promotes new menu |work=South Florida Business Journal |date=September 12, 2002 |access-date=October 9, 2007 |archive-date=February 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221195805/http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2002/09/09/daily63.html |url-status=live }} Many of these items have since been discontinued, modified or relegated to a regional menu option.{{cite press release|title=Burger King nutrition facts – United States |url=http://www.bk.com/cms/en/us/cms_out/digital_assets/files/pages/NutritionInformation.pdf |publisher=Burger King Corporation |date=November 2010 |access-date=December 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101226220824/http://www.bk.com/cms/en/us/cms_out/digital_assets/files/pages/NutritionInformation.pdf |archive-date=December 26, 2010 }} To better appeal to a more adult palate and demographic, BK introduced several new products to its menu in 2003, including several new or revamped chicken products, a new salad line and its BK Joe brand of coffee. Some of the new products, including their Enormous Omelet Sandwich line and the BK Stacker line, brought negative attention due to the large portion size, and amounts of unhealthy fats and trans-fats.{{cite web |url=http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4191016.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206123616/http://www.komoradio.com/news/archive/4191016.html |archive-date=February 6, 2008 |title=Burger King Launches Line Of Jumbo High-Rise Burgers |first=Herb |last=Weisbaum |publisher=KOMO Radio (Seattle, WA) |date=July 6, 2006 |access-date=October 24, 2007}}{{cite news |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2005-03-27-burger-king_x.htm |title=Burger King to offer whopper of a breakfast sandwich |first=Bruce |last=Horovitz |work=USA Today |date=May 3, 2005 |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013221833/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2005-03-27-burger-king_x.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/healthbeat/archive.asp?postID=761 |title=Word of the day: Meat'Normous |work=The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA) |first=Heather |last=Lalley |date=September 6, 2005 |access-date=October 1, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091403/http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/healthbeat/archive.asp?postID=761 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }} Many of these products featured higher quality ingredients like whole chicken breast, Angus beef, and natural cheeses such as cheddar and pepper jack.{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_35_38/ai_n6189447/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709184702/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_35_38/ai_n6189447/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |title=Chains beef up with Black Angus |agency=The Gale Group |work=Nation's Restaurant News |date=August 4, 2004 |access-date=July 16, 2007 }} Again, not all these products, such as the BK Baguette line, have met sales expectations.

With the purchase of the company in 2010, 3G began a program to restructure its menu designed to move away from the male-oriented menu that had dominated under the previous ownership. The first major item to be introduced was a reformulation of its BK Chicken Tenders product in March 2011.{{cite web |last=Thorn |first=Bret |title=Burger King revamps chicken tenders |url=http://nrn.com/article/burger-king-revamps-chicken-tenders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402112817/http://nrn.com/article/burger-king-revamps-chicken-tenders |archive-date=April 2, 2011 |work=Nation's Restaurant News|access-date=April 5, 2012 |date=March 11, 2011}} Over the next few months, approximately 20 new products were developed while others were reformulated, including its Chef's Choice Burger.{{cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Ken |title=BK's Chef's Choice Burger is a different breed |url=http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/dining/bk-s-chef-s-choice-burger-is-a-different-breed/article_17f455cf-2d3c-5f4f-a216-543d26fd954f.html |work=Utah Daily Herald |access-date=April 5, 2012 |date=November 24, 2011 |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405072017/http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/dining/bk-s-chef-s-choice-burger-is-a-different-breed/article_17f455cf-2d3c-5f4f-a216-543d26fd954f.html |url-status=live }} Eventually pruned down to 10 items, Burger King began deploying the items in the United States throughout 2011–2012 with the official roll out beginning April 2012. The changes included new soft serve products, smoothies, frappés and chicken strips. The Whopper was the most prominently reformulated product in this round of introductions with a new type of cheese and packaging.

At the end of 2015, Burger King's parent company, Restaurant Brands International, announced that none of its subsidiaries would use chicken that had been fed antibiotics that are "critically important" to human health; that announcement referred only to a small class of antibiotics for which there is only one drug that kill a kind of bacteria and the announcement was described as a "small step" by advocates for stopping all antibiotic use in livestock.{{cite news|last1=Mohan|first1=Geoffrey|title=Is Burger King's antibiotic policy less than meets the eye?|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-burgerking-antibiotics-20161230-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=December 30, 2016|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=February 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208184613/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-burgerking-antibiotics-20161230-story.html|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Burger King released an "Impossible Whopper" burger, a vegetarian burger using a plant-based patty from Impossible Foods.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/business/burger-king-impossible-rollout/index.html|title=Burger King plans to roll out Impossible Whopper across the United States|first=Danielle|last=Wiener-Bronner|date=April 29, 2019|website=CNN Digital|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=April 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429171609/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/business/burger-king-impossible-rollout/index.html|url-status=live}}

In February 2020, Burger King announced that it would remove artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors from the Whopper by the end of 2020.{{cite web |last1=Lucas |first1=Amelia |title=Burger King is cutting artificial preservatives and it created a gross new ad to show it off |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/19/burger-king-is-removing-artificial-additives-from-the-whopper.html |website=CNBC |access-date=February 19, 2020 |language=en |date=February 19, 2020 |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104082147/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/19/burger-king-is-removing-artificial-additives-from-the-whopper.html |url-status=live }} In July 2020, BK announced it would begin selling a Whopper patty made from cows on a low methane diet.{{Cite news|last=Lucas|first=Ameilia|date=July 14, 2020|title=Burger King is selling a burger made from cows on low-methane diet|work=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/burger-king-is-selling-a-burger-made-from-cows-on-low-methane-diet.html|access-date=July 14, 2020|archive-date=July 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714100817/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/burger-king-is-selling-a-burger-made-from-cows-on-low-methane-diet.html|url-status=live}}

In late 2021 and early 2022, the company announced it would cut back on value items and altered product configuration because of inflationary pressures and to speed up drive-thru lanes.{{Cite news |last=Haddon |first=Heather |date=January 30, 2022 |title=Burger King, Domino's Pull Back on Value Menus as Costs Rise |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/burger-king-dominos-pull-back-on-value-menus-as-costs-rise-11643554803 |access-date=April 11, 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web |last=Kline |first=Daniel |title=Burger King Makes Two Huge Menu Changes (You Won't Like Them) |url=https://www.thestreet.com/investing/burger-king-owner-makes-unpopular-menu-changes |access-date=April 11, 2022 |website=TheStreet |date=March 2022 |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Grace |title=Burger King is removing items from its menu and offering fewer discounts |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-removing-items-menu-discounts-prices-costs-inflation-restaurant-2022-2 |access-date=April 11, 2022 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2022 |first=Jelisa |last=Castrodale |title=Burger King Locations Are Cutting Their 10-Piece Chicken Nuggets Down to 8 |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/burger-king-ten-piece-chicken-nuggets-reduced |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225202120/https://www.foodandwine.com/news/burger-king-ten-piece-chicken-nuggets-reduced |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 25, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2022 |website=Food & Wine |language=en }}{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Amelia |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Burger King will cut menu items to speed up its drive-thru lanes as part of U.S. turnaround |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/01/burger-king-will-cut-menu-items-to-speed-up-its-drive-thru-lanes.html |access-date=April 11, 2022 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

After successfully testing vegan products at meat-free temporary restaurants in Leicester Square and Bristol, Burger King UK announced that in 2023 it would offer a Vegan Royale Bakon King, made with vegan bacon, vegan cheese and a vegan burger made by The Vegetarian Butcher.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Steven |date=December 27, 2022 |title=Burger King is bringing back the Bacon King - and this time there's a vegan one |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/burger-king-bringing-back-bacon-25843764 |access-date=December 28, 2022 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}

File:Burger King Italy 2.jpg

Like its menu, the equipment the company cooks its hamburgers with has also evolved as the company expanded. The burgers have always been broiled mechanically; the original unit, called an Insta-Broiler, was one of two pieces of equipment the founders of Insta-Burger King purchased before opening their new restaurant.{{rp|27}} The Insta-Broiler worked by cooking 12 burger patties in a wire basket, allowing the patties to be cooked from both sides simultaneously.{{rp|27}} When McLamore and Edgerton took over the company, besides dropping the "Insta-" prefix, they switched to an improved unit called a "Flame Broiler". Designed by the two and featuring stationary burners that cooked the meat on a moving chain, the unit broke down less often while maintaining a similar cooking rate. The company would stay with that format for the next 40 years until Burger King began developing a variable speed broiler that could handle multiple items with different cooking rates and times.{{cite web |url=http://www.qsrweb.com/article/99436/Burger-King-menu-to-get-creative |title=Burger King menu to get creative |last=Hoyland |first=Christa |date=April 7, 2009 |work=QSRWeb.com |access-date=June 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715135747/http://www.qsrweb.com/article/99436/Burger-King-menu-to-get-creative |archive-date=July 15, 2011}}{{cite press release|work=PRNewswire |date=September 28, 1999 |url=http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-28-1999/0001031179&EDATE= |title=Burger King Goes to the Heartland of the USA To Test The Next Big Thing – The Great American Burger |publisher=Burger King Corporation |access-date=October 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219001450/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F09-28-1999%2F0001031179&EDATE= |archive-date=February 19, 2006}}{{cite web|last=Cebrzynski |first=Gregg |title=Burger King Plans systemwide overhaul in operations, image |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_17_33/ai_54663955/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041115233618/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_17_33/ai_54663955 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 15, 2004 |work=Nation's Restaurant News |publisher=bNet.com |access-date=January 21, 2011 |date=April 26, 1999 }} These new units began testing in 1999 and eventually evolved into the two models the company deployed system-wide in 2008–2009. Accompanying these new broilers was new food-holding equipment, accompanied with a computer-based product monitoring system for its cooked products.{{cite web |url=http://wireless.sys-con.com/node/41106 |title=A Whopper of a Wireless Solution |last=Reckert |first=John |date=January 2, 2001 |work=Wireless Business and Technologies |access-date=October 13, 2009 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716181637/http://wireless.sys-con.com/node/41106 |url-status=live }} The monitoring system allows for more concise tracking of product quality while giving the company and its franchisees a method to streamline costs by more precisely projecting sales and product usage.{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/10/12/news/companies/pluggedin_boyle_burgerking.fortune/index.htm |title=Burger King reinvents flame broiling |last=Boyle |first=Matthew |date=October 12, 2007 |work=Fortune |publisher=CNN |access-date=October 13, 2009 |archive-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212015744/https://money.cnn.com/2007/10/12/news/companies/pluggedin_boyle_burgerking.fortune/index.htm |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Burger King advertising|list of Burger King marketing campaigns}}

File:Nick-van-eede-KING-CROWN.jpg|alt=A Burger King crown on Nick Van Eede]]

Since its founding in 1954, Burger King has employed varied advertising programs, both successful and unsuccessful. During the 1970s, output included its "Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce..." jingle, the inspiration for its current mascot the Burger King, and several well known and parodied slogans such as "Have it your way" and "It takes two hands to handle a Whopper".{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=emVzMXpBUoIC&q=two+hands+to+hold+a+whopper&pg=PT582 |title=Gabay's Copywriters' Compendium |first=J. Jonathan |last=Gabay |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |date=October 2006 |isbn=978-0-7506-8320-3 |page=582 |access-date=December 4, 2008 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121024444/https://books.google.com/books?id=emVzMXpBUoIC&q=two+hands+to+hold+a+whopper&pg=PT582 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.bk.com/companyinfo/content/corporation/history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525025155/http://www.bk.com/companyinfo/content/corporation/history.html |archive-date=May 25, 2007 |title=Marketing and Advertising History |publisher=Burger King Corporation |date=March 12, 2007 |access-date=October 24, 2007}}{{cite web |url=http://shephyken.blogspot.com/2006/05/hold-pickles-hold-lettuce-special.html |title=Customer service and more |first=Shep |last=Hyken |publisher=BlogSpot |date=May 26, 2006 |access-date=September 26, 2007 |archive-date=July 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070718021732/http://shephyken.blogspot.com/2006/05/hold-pickles-hold-lettuce-special.html |url-status=live }}

Burger King introduced the first attack ad in the fast food industry with a pre-teen Sarah Michelle Gellar in 1981. The television spot, which claimed BK burgers were larger and better tasting than competitor McDonald's,{{rp|66}} so enraged executives at McDonald's parent company that they sued all parties involved.{{cite web |last=Salemi |first=Vicki |title=Buffy's Having A Baby |work=SheKnows.com |publisher=AtomicOnline |url=http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/808551/sarah-michelle-gellar-pregnant |date=April 12, 2009 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-date=November 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101224900/http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/808551/sarah-michelle-gellar-pregnant |url-status=live }} Starting in the early 1980s and running through approximately 2001, BK engaged a series of ad agencies that produced many unsuccessful slogans and programs, including its biggest advertising flop "Where's Herb?"{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,960538,00.html |title=Herb Comes Out of Hiding |magazine=Time |date=February 3, 1986 |access-date=October 24, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128174940/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0%2C8816%2C960538%2C00.html |archive-date=January 28, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v20/ai_4083228/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712174422/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_v20/ai_4083228/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |title=Herb falls flat, but Wendy's breaks another winner |first=Mark |last=Schoifet |work=Nation's Restaurant News |date=January 1, 1986 |access-date=October 24, 2007 }}

Burger King was a pioneer in the advertising practice known as the "product tie-in", with a successful partnership with George Lucas' Lucasfilm, Ltd., to promote the 1977 film Star Wars in which BK sold a set of beverage glasses featuring the main characters from the movie.{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/promo/news20050520.html |title=Doing Star Wars the Burger King Way |publisher=Lucasfilm |work=Starwars.com |date=May 20, 2005 |access-date=November 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703034852/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/promo/news20050520.html |archive-date=July 3, 2007 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/2005/05/star-wars-returns-to-burger-king.html |title=Star Wars returns to Burger King |author=Ken |publisher=FastFoodFacts.info |date=May 10, 2005 |access-date=November 19, 2007 |archive-date=November 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113082844/http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/2005/05/star-wars-returns-to-burger-king.html |url-status=live }} This promotion was one of the first in the fast food industry and set the pattern that continues to the present. BK's early success in the field was overshadowed by a 1982 deal between McDonald's and The Walt Disney Company to promote Disney's animated films beginning in the mid-1980s and running through the early 1990s. In 1994, Disney switched from McDonald's to Burger King, signing a 10-movie promotional contract which would include such top 10 films as Aladdin (1992), Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Lion King (1994), and Toy Story (1995). Burger King created kids' meal toys to promote the DreamWorks Pictures film Small Soldiers (1998). This led to some controversy due to the film being rated PG-13. As a result, BK altered the promotional commercials to be directed at an older audience, and included a pamphlet disclaimer with the toys which read, in part; "the movie Small Soldiers may contain material that is inappropriate for younger children."{{cite web|last=Neville|first=Ken|title="Small Soldiers," Big Controversy|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/36690/small-soldiers-big-controversy|website=E Online|date=July 10, 1998|access-date=June 20, 2024}} A partnership in association with the Pokémon franchise at the height of its popularity in 1999 was tremendously successful for the company, with many locations rapidly selling out of the toys and the replacements.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/KIDS+SWARM+BURGER+KING+AS+POKEMON-MANIA+STRIKES.%28News%29%28Statistical...-a083629023 |title=Kids swarm Burger King as Pokémon-mania strikes |first=Jason |last=Kandel |work=Los Angeles Daily News |date=November 12, 1999 |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520141155/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/KIDS+SWARM+BURGER+KING+AS+POKEMON-MANIA+STRIKES.(News)(Statistical...-a083629023 |url-status=live }} In December 1999, two hazardous incidents involving the Pokéball toy, one of which caused the death of a 13-month-old child, led to the toy being recalled.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Shortly after the acquisition of Burger King by TPG Capital, L.P. in 2002, its new CEO Brad Blum set about turning around the fortunes of the company by initiating an overhaul of its flailing advertising programs. In 2003, Burger King hired the Miami-based advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky (CP+B), which completely reorganized its advertising with a series of new campaigns. CP+B was known for having a hip, subversive tack when creating campaigns for its clients, exactly what BK was looking for. Their strategy centered on a redesigned Burger King character used during the 1970s/1980s Burger King Kingdom children's advertising campaign as a caricatured variation, now simply called "the King".{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/business/ad_report_card/2004/10/the_return_of_the_king.html |title=Burger King is resurrecting a dubious icon. Why? |first=Seth |last=Stevenson |publisher=Slate.com |date=October 1, 2004 |access-date=October 9, 2007 |archive-date=November 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125161612/http://www.slate.com/articles/business/ad_report_card/2004/10/the_return_of_the_king.html |url-status=live }}{{cite episode |title=Big Burger Business: McDonald's and Burger King |url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/heavyweights/episodes/big-burger-business-mcdonalds-and-burger-king |series=Heavyweights |network=Food Network |airdate=April 21, 2008 |season=2 |number=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919161141/http://www.foodnetwork.com/heavyweights/big-burger-business-mcdonalds-and-burger-king/index.html |archive-date=September 19, 2012}}

While highly successful, some of CP+B's commercials were derided for perceived sexism or cultural insensitivity. Burger King's new owner, 3G Capital, later terminated the relationship with CP+B in 2011 and moved its advertising to McGarryBowen to begin a new product-oriented campaign with expanded demographic targeting.

Additionally, CP+B created a series of new characters like the Subservient Chicken and the faux nu-metal band Coq Roq, featured in a series of viral web-based advertisements on sites such as MySpace and various Burger King corporate pages, to complement various television and print promotional campaigns.{{cite web|url=http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/Home/Articles/be50c1fbeab44225a611af5edb1d4ae7/Burger-King-in-MySpace-campaign.html |title=Burger King in MySpace campaign |publisher=Mad.co.uk |date=May 13, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2007 |format=Fee required |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115145740/http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/Home/Articles/be50c1fbeab44225a611af5edb1d4ae7/Burger-King-in-MySpace-campaign.html |archive-date=January 15, 2008 }}{{cite web |url=http://marketingtoday.blogspot.com/2005/07/burger-king-goes-tasteless.html |title=Burger King Goes Tasteless |first=Peter |last=Delegge |publisher=MarketingToday.com |date=July 31, 2005 |access-date=August 25, 2007 |archive-date=August 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807183848/http://marketingtoday.blogspot.com/2005/07/burger-king-goes-tasteless.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.allbusiness.com/burger-kings-table-guests-3877633-1.html |title=Burger King's Table Guests |first=Robyn |last=Tippins |publisher=AllBusiness.com |date=August 3, 2006 |access-date=August 25, 2007 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016223351/http://www.allbusiness.com/burger-kings-table-guests-3877633-1.html |url-status=live }} One of the more successful promotions that CP+B devised was the creation of a series of three advergames for the Xbox 360.{{cite book |last1=Edery |first1=David |last2=Mollick |first2=Ethan |title=Changing the game: how video games are transforming the future of business |publisher=FT Press |isbn=978-0-13-235781-4 |chapter=3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/changinggamehowv00eder/page/69 69–72] |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L0TAV4BRs60C&q=Burger+King+Advergaming&pg=PA66 |date=October 2008 |access-date=January 20, 2011 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/changinggamehowv00eder/page/69 }}{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Douglas |title=GDC 07: Burger King gets its game on |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-07-burger-king-gets-its-game-on/1100-6167216/ |work=GameSpot |access-date=January 20, 2011 |date=March 11, 2007 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142224/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-07-burger-king-gets-its-game-on/1100-6167216/ |url-status=live }} Created by UK-based Blitz Games and featuring company celebrity spokesman Brooke Burke, the games sold more than 3.2 million copies, placing them as one of the top selling games along with another Xbox 360 hit, Gears of War.{{cite web|url=http://www.xbox365.com/news.cgi?id=GGHHHLHurH12210217 |title=More than 2 Million Games Sold Nationwide... |author=Coola |publisher=XBox365.com |date=December 21, 2006 |access-date=October 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101205904/http://www.xbox365.com/news.cgi?id=GGHHHLHurH12210217 |archive-date=January 1, 2007 }} These ad campaigns, coupled with other new promotions and a series of new product introductions, drew positive and negative attention to BK and helped TPG and its partners realize about US$367 million in dividends.{{cite web |url=http://www.cpbgroup.com/ |title=CP+B website, Burger King section. |publisher=Crispin Porter + Bogusky |access-date=October 24, 2007 |archive-date=October 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027080203/http://www.cpbgroup.com/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsnextblog.com/archives/2004/04/burger_king_has_fun_with_subse.asp |title=Burger King Has Fun With Subservient Chicken Viral Campaign |first=B.L. |last=Ochman |date=April 12, 2004 |access-date=August 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231135925/http://www.whatsnextblog.com/archives/2004/04/burger_king_has_fun_with_subse.asp |archive-date=December 31, 2006 }}

With the late-2000s recession hitting the 18–35 demographic targeted by the CP+B created ads particularly hard, the company saw its market share decline and the company move into the red. After the completion of the sale of the company in late 2010, the new ownership group terminated Burger King's seven-year relationship with CP+B and hired rival firm McGarryBowen to create a new campaign with an expanded market reach.{{cite web |first1=Rupal |last1=Parekh |first2=Maureen |last2=Morrison |work=Advertising Age |url=http://adage.com/article/agency-news/burger-king-ad-agency-crispin-split-year-run/149481/ |title=Burger King and Crispin Split After Seven-Year Run |date=March 18, 2011 |access-date=March 18, 2011 |archive-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321032358/http://adage.com/article/agency-news/burger-king-ad-agency-crispin-split-year-run/149481/ |url-status=live }} As part of the new campaign, McGarryBowen terminated the use of The Burger King in the company's advertising program in favor of a new program that focused on the food and ingredients in its new advertising campaigns.{{cite web |last=Morrison |first=Maureen |title=McGarryBowen Set to Grab Burger King Account |url=http://adage.com/article/agency-news/mcgarrybowen-set-grab-burger-king-account/227872/ |work=Ad Age |access-date=September 29, 2011 |date=June 1, 2011 |archive-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228215014/http://adage.com/article/agency-news/mcgarrybowen-set-grab-burger-king-account/227872/ |url-status=live }}

In recent years, Burger King has turned to trolling fast food rival McDonald's with their advertising strategy. The company's tactics have included LOLA MullenLowe's "Scary Clown Night" which offered a free Whopper to anyone dressed as a clown (McDonald's mascot) on Halloween; FCB New York's Whopper Detour initiative, which encouraged mobile app users to go to a nearby McDonald's in order to unlock a 1-center Whopper; and Ingo's "The Not Big Macs" menu, which poked fun at McDonald's recent loss of the Big Mac trademark in the EU.{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/burger-king-trolls-mcdonalds-yet-again-with-an-entire-menu-mocking-the-big-mac/|title=Burger King Trolls McDonald's Yet Again With an Entire Menu Mocking the Big Mac|website=www.adweek.com|date=January 31, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=February 1, 2019|archive-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131152651/https://www.adweek.com/creativity/burger-king-trolls-mcdonalds-yet-again-with-an-entire-menu-mocking-the-big-mac/|url-status=live}}

In February 2019, the company launched an advertising campaign called "Eat Like Andy". The television spot which premiered during the Super Bowl LIII features archival documentary film footage from "66 Scenes from America" by Jørgen Leth of the pop artist Andy Warhol (1928–1987) unwrapping and eating a Whopper. The footage was approved for use by the fast food giant courtesy of the Andy Warhol Foundation. Meanwhile, prior to the game, the mass market hamburger chain made available to viewers who ordered it in advance via DoorDash an "Andy Warhol Mystery Box" which contains among other items a plastic bottle of ketchup and a platinum wig so one can "Eat Like Andy".{{cite web|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/advertising-marketing/why-burger-king-showed-andy-warhol-eating-burger-its-super-bowl-commercial|title=Why Burger King showed Andy Warhol eating a burger in its Super Bowl commercial|date=February 5, 2019|website=Crain's New York Business|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-date=February 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180014/https://www.crainsnewyork.com/advertising-marketing/why-burger-king-showed-andy-warhol-eating-burger-its-super-bowl-commercial|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/burger-kings-andy-warhol-super-bowl-commercial-features-icon-a-classic-15919760|title=This Year's Burger King Super Bowl Commercial Features This Legendary Artist|first=Mehak|last=Anwar|website=Elite Daily|date=February 4, 2019 |access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207101148/https://www.elitedaily.com/p/burger-kings-andy-warhol-super-bowl-commercial-features-icon-a-classic-15919760|url-status=live}}

{{tweet

|name = Burger King

|username = BurgerKingUK

|text = Women belong in the kitchen.

|translation =

|date = March 8, 2021

|ID = 1368849338596745223

|ref-name = TweetBurgerKingUK_2

}}

{{tweet

|name = Burger King

|username = BurgerKingUK

|text = If they want to, of course. Yet only 20% of chefs are women. We're on a mission to change the gender ratio in the restaurant industry by empowering female employees with the opportunity to pursue a culinary career. #IWD

|translation =

|date = March 8, 2021

|ID = 1368849339607638017

|ref-name = TweetBurgerKingUK_3

}}

{{tweet

|name = Burger King

|username = BurgerKingUK

|text = We are proud to be launching a new scholarship programme which will help female Burger King employees pursue their culinary dreams!

|translation =

|date = March 8, 2021

|ID = 1368877839072821253

}}

On March 8, 2021, Burger King was criticized for their International Women's Day marketing campaign, after a tweet from Burger King UK stated, "Women belong in the kitchen".{{Cite news|last=Denham|first=Hannah|title=Burger King UK sparks uproar with 'Women belong in the kitchen' tweet on International Women's Day|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/08/burger-king-tweet-women/|access-date=March 8, 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420171417/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/03/08/burger-king-tweet-women/|url-status=live}} The tweets were labeled as sexist by thousands of Twitter users{{Cite web|last=Rodger|first=James|date=March 8, 2021|title=Burger King under fire over 'shameful' International Women's Day tweet|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/burger-king-under-fire-over-19987449|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=BirminghamLive|language=en|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142046/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/burger-king-under-fire-over-19987449|url-status=live}} and dozens of news publications.{{Cite web|date=March 8, 2021|title=Burger King's UK tweets, 'Women belong in the kitchen' on International Women's Day|url=https://www.ksn.com/news/business/burger-king-tweets-women-belong-in-the-kitchen-on-international-womens-day/|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=KSN-TV|language=en-US|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207211731/https://www.ksn.com/news/business/burger-king-tweets-women-belong-in-the-kitchen-on-international-womens-day/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Molina|first=Brett|title=Burger King UK under fire for tweeting 'Women belong in the kitchen' on International Women's Day|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/03/08/burger-king-uk-under-fire-women-belong-kitchen-tweet/4627505001/|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=USA Today|language=en-US|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309000753/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/03/08/burger-king-uk-under-fire-women-belong-kitchen-tweet/4627505001/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Lopez-Alvar|first=Nicole|date=March 8, 2021|title=Burger King UK tweets 'women belong in the kitchen' on International Women's Day|url=https://www.local10.com/news/world/2021/03/08/burger-king-uk-tweets-women-belong-in-the-kitchen-on-international-womens-day/|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=WPLG|language=en|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308193158/https://www.local10.com/news/world/2021/03/08/burger-king-uk-tweets-women-belong-in-the-kitchen-on-international-womens-day/|url-status=live}} Burger King UK followed up, stating "We're on a mission to change the gender ratio in the restaurant industry." However, critics say the damage has already been done. The initial tweet received high amounts of recognition and viewer interaction, while the replies received a fraction of the coverage, meaning only a few people are aware of the clarifications made by Burger King.{{Cite web|title=Burger King U.K. gets pushback for 'Women belong in the kitchen' post|url=https://www.today.com/food/burger-king-u-k-shares-women-belong-kitchen-post-t211037|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=TODAY.com|date=March 8, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308210550/https://www.today.com/food/burger-king-u-k-shares-women-belong-kitchen-post-t211037|url-status=live}} After severe backlash, Burger King deleted the tweet 12 hours later and posted an apology stating, "We got our initial tweet wrong and we're sorry."{{Cite tweet |title=We hear you |number=1369055736756600834 |user=BurgerKingUK |date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=March 8, 2021}}

In late 2022, Burger King released the "Have it Your Way" commercials, going viral on social media such as TikTok after the 2022–23 NFL playoffs because of its large amount of repetition and catchiness. The ads gained media attention and made their way onto music streaming services such as Spotify in February 2023.{{Cite web |last=Marcin |first=Tim |date=January 25, 2023 |title=The Burger King 'Whopper' jingle is going viral because sports fans can't escape it |url=https://mashable.com/article/burger-king-jingle-viral-memes-nfl |access-date=February 17, 2023 |website=Mashable |language=en}}

• Drive-through
• Hungry Jack's, the Australian subsidiary for Burger King
• List of hamburger restaurants
• WhopperCoin

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{{Commons category|Burger King}}

{{Wikivoyage|Fast food in North America}}

• {{Official website|http://www.bk.com}}
• [https://www.bk.com/news-press Official news & press]
• [https://bkmclamorefoundation.org/ Burger King McLamore Foundation]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143356/https://bkmclamorefoundation.org/ |date=June 12, 2018 }}.
• [https://nufoundation.org/-/unmc-fred-and-pamela-buffett-cancer-center-liz-s-legacy-help-beat-cancer-for-kids-01081183 Liz's Legacy Cancer Fund BK Beat Cancer for Kids]

{{Finance links

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• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020324083110/http://www.bk.com/ |date=March 24, 2002 |title=Burger King }}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.burgerking.com/flash.htm |title=Burger King |access-date=December 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010419064525/http://www.burgerking.com/flash.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2001}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.bk.com/ |title=Burger King |access-date=May 18, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971012070901/http://www.bk.com/ |archive-date=October 12, 1997}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.burgerking.com/ |title=Burger King |access-date=November 10, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961226181251/http://www.burgerking.com/ |archive-date=December 26, 1996 }}

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