Smashburger

Smashburger was founded in June 2007 in Denver, Colorado, by Rick Schaden and Tom Ryan — whose résumé includes developing Pizza Hut's stuffed crust pizza and serving as chief concept officer at McDonald's. The chain pioneered the smash burger technique of pressing Angus beef onto a hot flat-top grill for maximum sear, and became the fastest concept of its kind to reach 200-plus locations. Jollibee Foods Corporation acquired a full stake in the company in 2018, and it now operates in more than 35 U.S. states.