Burger King

Keith J. Kramer and Matthew Burns founded Burger King in 1953 as Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida. After the Insta-Broiler grills that Kramer and Burns used to cook their burgers, they gave their new eatery the name Insta-Burger King. Since the broiled burgers were such a success, Kramer and Burns immediately began franchising and mandated that all franchises utilize the Insta-Broiler device.

Despite its success, Insta-Burger King experienced financial difficulties within two years. As the company struggled, Miami-based franchisees David Edgerton and James McLamore bought it and renamed it Burger King in 1959.

Many of Burger King's distinguishing features are the work of Edgerton and McLamore. They developed the flame broiler machine used today after discovering that the Insta-Broilers would deteriorate due to the meat drippings. Edgerton and McLamore also created Burger King, the chain's mascot, in 1955, and McLamore invented the Whopper in 1957.

With more than 15,000 locations worldwide, Burger King is currently one of the biggest fast food burger chains.

Because a food store in Adelaide had already registered the name Burger King as a trademark when the company decided to enter the country, all Burger King locations there are now referred to as Hungry Jack's. Jack Cowin, an Australian master franchisee, picked the name Hungry Jack's from a list Burger King gave him.

Year Founded: 1953
Founder(s): Keith J. Kramer and Matthew Burns
Year Franchising Started: 1953
Current No. of Locations: over 15,200
Headquarters: Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA
Website: www.bk.com