Smashburger names chief development officer

Smashburger has promoted David Biederman to the newly created position of chief development officer, a move that comes as the burger chain expands its pipeline of franchise restaurants across the East Coast.

Biederman previously headed the Denver-based chain’s construction and development, a role he will continue, along with overseeing information technology, purchasing and real estate as CDO, Smashburger said Tuesday.

“Dave has been an integral member of Smashburger’s core development team and was instrumental in developing the restaurant’s initial operating platform, smashing process, restaurant design, as well as the construction processes critical to the brand’s success today,” said Scott Crane, Smashburger’s chief executive, in a statement. “I would like to congratulate him on his promotion, and we look forward to leveraging his expertise in a broader way to reinforce operations, develop and strengthen the Smashburger brand across the globe.”

In addition, Smashburger said it has signed franchise agreements with five new groups, and existing franchisees have increased their commitments, resulting in a pipeline of 61 new restaurants over the next several years.

In Albany, N.Y., and Vermont, new franchise partner BG Restaurant Group is planning eight units. Mid South SB Investments is planning 10 restaurants in the greater Jackson, Miss. area. Crowded Market Burgers has pledged to bring three units to Fayetteville, N.C. Ashford Holdings East will bring three restaurants to Annapolis, Md. And franchise operator Expandable Technologies is planning four restaurants in Pittsburgh.

Several existing franchisees have agreed to add more units, including R.K. Hunter, operator of six units in Ventura, Calif., who will add three more. In Houston, Mid-Wicket Enterprises has committed to three more restaurants, bringing the number of planned units to 14, including three that have opened.

In Manhattan, Smash Partners has added 10 more units to its lineup there, bringing the total to 34, including three open in Westchester County and the first in Manhattan. In nearby Queens, N.Y., ISK Systems has added plans for four new locations, for a total of 24, including four on Long Island.

In Massachusetts, Savin Burgers will add 10 more restaurants to its existing commitment for 12, including one open in Natick. SB Philly will add three more locations planned for Chester County, Pa., to its roster of 16, including two open in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey.

Smashburger operates and franchises more than 272 restaurants in 30 states and four countries internationally.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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