Burger King will close up to 400 stores by the end of the year - with two franchises already declaring bankruptcy - as fast food giant fails to keep up with fast-casual competition

Daily Mail ^ | 5/04/23 | Tilly Armstrong

[Libloather]

Burger King has estimated that the fast food giant will have to shutter up to 400 locations across the country this year.

The iconic burger chain said that underperforming stores will be the first to go.

Following the announcement of the company's first quarter results, CEO Joshua Kobza said the chain expects to shut between 300 and 400 locations in 2023.

This is a historic high - the company usually closes a couple of hundred stores annually, Kobza said.

According to its earnings release, Burger King axed 124 locations in the year up to March, leaving 6,964 restaurants.

Not all of the 300 to 400 locations closing their doors this year have been revealed, as boss Kobza admitted there is 'a fair degree of uncertainty' around the plans.

Sales performance can vary greatly between Burger King locations, and the company said it is seeking additional franchisees with stronger finances this year.

Chairman Patrick Doyle said: 'There will always be a minority [of franchisees] who aren't dedicated, enthusiastic operators. We'll work with them to leave the system and move on to do something else.

'There simply is no room for franchisees who are not willing or able to work hard to operate restaurants that are better than the system average over the long term.'

It comes after two Burger King franchisees declared bankruptcy earlier this year.

For decades, the home of the Whopper has had to live in the shadow of the Golden Arches of McDonald's as America's second-biggest burger chain. In 2020, it lost its second-place spot to Wendy's.

[Libloather]

They should find a way to serve Bud Light. That could help.

[mewzilla]

NYS keep hiking the minimum wage.

Wonder how many BKs will close as a result in NYS..

[COBOL2Java]

'There simply is no room for franchisees who are not willing or able to work hard to operate restaurants that are better than the system average over the long term.'

More likely, the franchisees fear for their lives in districts with woke governments and reduced police presence.

[AppyPappy]

We have 3 restaurants in town and 1 is a BK. It is best known for really poor service.

[ArtDodger]

When I’m on the run, I sometimes eat fast food. Most of the time, I look at what I got in the bag and compare it to wht I just paid and feel cheated. The few places I like are Bojangles (Chicken sand) and Wawa.

[Wilderness Conservative]

Customers are uncomfortable eating burgers handled by woke freaks and ferals who would on their food.

[Magnatron]

I haven’t eaten at Burger King for probably 30 years. I’m always amazed they’re still in business…

[cableguymn]

We have one in town. It has zero competition.

It’s always a dump. The people working there are not interested in actually working

If it’s not on the list, it should be.

[Kenny500c]

They should double-down on charbroiled burgers. Tasty. imo.

[vetvetdoug]

They went woke with their LGBT packaging on their products. 40 years ago I had some loyalty to them but when I moved the service was mostly affirmative action types and the service was horrendous so I’ve quit going there and prefer Hardee’s for a burger joint. I think the start of the downhill slide of the company was the embrasure of the LGBTQRS community.

[imabadboy99]

Angry whopper for the win.

[avenir]

I remember them having a small $1 double cheeseburger that, when piping hot and fresh, was so good. It’s gone up to $2.69 which is still cheap comparatively. Now I want one…but the sodium would jack me up (1300mg)!

[sonova]

I liked BK back in the ‘90’s. I stopped in one recently and got a burger. It was like eating a shoe.

[Maris Crane]

I hate to say it, but the Whopper went from a delicious, enjoyable burger to ...hate to say it...garbage sandwich from he!!.

I’ll eat Brussel sprouts before I purchase a sandwich from Burger King.

They should just crawl away.

[Wuli]

I am not surprised.

Location, location, location.

The three Burger King locations within my general travels in my homw area are all in locations likely to get the least traffic, meaning you really have to want a Burger King meal to go where you’ll be able to get one. Most fast food shopping is not simply getting something you want, but also because it’s convenient. And if a Burger King is not among the most convenient and other fast food competitors are, then others are likely to get the fast food business.

On the other side of this issue every single one of the McDondalds locations in our area is in a convenient and high traffic area.

Maybe too many Burger King franchises have locations chosen because the land was cheaper than other possible locations in the area. And maybe the land was cheaper because it was a less desireable area for a fast food restaurant to be.

[HamiltonJay]

I hope one of these franchisees is Tom’s King. They are the absolute worst…. The fact they are the largest franchisee shows you just how little BK corporate cares about their product or service.

Every time I have a horrible experience at a BK it never fails it’s a Tom’s King location.

[Kenny500c]

Is he running at Gulfstream?

[Sirius Lee]

[Dr. Sivana]

They went woke with their LGBT packaging on their products.

Yup. When they came out with the Pride Whopper I was done. They may no longer be the most fragrant, but they were first.

Their bacon croissan'wich used to be tolerable.

[nonliberal]

Correct on location. I know of TWO Burger Kings in my area that have closed. You had to really want BK in order to get there. Chick Fil A opened up across the street and their servers have all their teeth and don’t smell like pot.