 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Defunct | 1996; 29 years ago (1996) |
| Fate | Sold toHardee's |
| Successor | Hardee's |
| Headquarters | Indianapolis,Indiana,U.S. |
| Products | Hamburgers,fast food |
| Parent | General Foods (1968–1982)Imasco (1982–1996) |
Burger Chef was an Americanfast-food restaurant chain. It began operating in 1954 inIndianapolis, Indiana, expanded throughout the United States, and at its peak in 1973 had 1,050 locations, including some in Canada.[1] The chain featured several signature items, such as the Big Shef and Super Shef hamburgers.
In 1982, theGeneral Foods Corporation, owners of the Burger Chef trademark and name, divested itself of the restaurant chain, gradually selling to the owners ofHardee's. The final restaurant to carry the Burger Chef name closed in 1996.[2]
In 1954, Frank and Donald Thomas patented theflame broiler in their parent company General Equipment Corporation and started their restaurant inIndianapolis, Indiana. In 1957, they opened their first Burger Chef.[3]
Burger Chef spread across the United States, following a strategy of opening outlets in smaller towns.[3]
By 1972, its number of locations (1,200) was surpassed only byMcDonald's (1,600).[4] They offered a double burger, called the Big Shef, and later the quarter-pound (113 gram) hamburger, Super Shef. Subsequently, they added the Works Bar, where customers added their own toppings to hamburgers.[5]
In 1968,General Foods Corporation purchased the chain and continued its rapid expansion. At the time of the purchase by General Foods, Burger Chef had 600 locations in 39 states.[6]
By 1969, international expansion was underway with General Foods building ten Burger Chef outlets inAustralia. The expansion ended in 1975 with a US$1.3 million loss (equivalent to $7.6 million in 2024). It was stated that Australians disliked the limited burger menu compared to varied options available frommilk bars.[7] The chain had twomascots: Burger Chef, voiced byPaul Winchell, and Jeff (the chef's juvenilesidekick).[8][9]
In 1972, the chain introduced the Funburger, a hamburger with packaging that included puzzles and a small toy. The following year, the chain introduced the Funmeal, the first kid’s meal that included a burger, french fries, a drink, a cookie, and a small toy; with expanded packaging that included stories about Burger Chef and Jeff's adventures and friends (including the magician Burgerini, vampire Count Fangburger, talking ape Burgerilla, and Cackleburger the witch), with riddles and puzzles. When McDonald's introduced theirHappy Meal in 1979, the chain sued, but ultimately lost.[10]
In 1982, General Foods sold Burger Chef to theCanadian companyImasco, which also ownedHardee's, for US$44 million (equivalent to $143.36 million in 2024).[11] Imasco converted many locations to Hardee's restaurants and let franchises and locations near existing Hardee's locations convert to other brands.[8] Remaining restaurants that did not convert to Hardee's or new names and branding simply closed.
Hardee's brought back the Big Shef hamburger for a limited time in 2001, 2007, and 2014 at some Midwestern locations.[12][13]
In January 2007, River West Brands LLC, ofChicago,Illinois, sued Hardee's Food Systems in the US Patents and Trademarks Office, claimingabandonment of the Burger Chef trademark.[14] In 2009, River West Brands dropped its petition for cancellation. Both parties agreed to pay their own attorneys' fees.[14]
In 1996, the final Burger Chef franchise in Cookeville, Tenn. was converted into a "Pleasers" restaurant.
Burger Chef was also the first to come up with the "works bar" where customers could add their own ketchup, mustard, mayo, and other condiments to their sandwiches.
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