Burger King has broken new ground by building its latest hi-tech Drive Thru restaurant in just 24 hours from start to finish — the first time this has ever been done in the QSR* industry.

The restaurant, on the outskirts of Rotherham, U.K., was constructed by a team of more than 100 senior managers from across EMA* working alongside skilled construction workers.  The involvement was part of a team-building initiative, designed to give senior managers a start-to-finish, eyewitness insight into the way a restaurant is built.


Burger King is one of the most successful brands in the QSR sector in Europe with double-digit growth rates. The building of a restaurant so quickly symbolises Burger King’s commitment to its programme of restaurant and job creation this year. With system sales of $1.7 billion in 2000 within EMA* (representing almost 20% system growth), Burger King continues to push the boundaries ever wider. EMA President, Andre Lacroix was thrilled to be part of the quickest ever restaurant build and commented: “We are opening a restaurant virtually every working day this year throughout the EMA region. Our innovative approach is highlighted in this superb achievement by our high performing teams from across the region. It underlines our commitment to operational and service excellence with a huge investment in infrastructure and jobs.”


The building work commenced at 2 p.m. on the 26th of April as the ten modular parts of the restaurant arrived at the site, and concluded at 2 p.m. on the 27th of April with an opening ceremony presided over by the Deputy Mayor of  Rotherham, Cllr. Littleboy and the Lady Mayoress, at which Whoppers, freshly flame-grilled in the new restaurant, were served with Coke and Fries to an assembled audience of local VIPs and Senior managers.

    *  QSR:  Quick Service Restaurants
    *  EMA:  Europe, Middle East & Africa

General Information
Burger King Corporation created the American icon, the HOME OF THE WHOPPER(R), in 1957. The company and its franchisees operate more than 11,340 restaurants in all 50 states and 58 countries and international territories
around the world, with more than 92% of BURGER KING(R) restaurants owned and operated by independent franchisees.  Since the company’s founding in Miami in 1954, the BURGER KING(R) brand has become recognised for great flame-grilled taste and HAVE IT YOUR WAY(R) food customisation.  In fiscal year 2000, BURGER KING(R) had system-wide sales of $11.4 billion.  Burger King Corporation is a part of Diageo (NYSE: DEO), the international food and drinks company. To learn more about BURGER KING(R), please visit the company’s website at http://www.burgerking.com.