Smashburger: 'Forbes' Magazine's Pick For America's Most Promising Company

The phrase "America's Most Promising Company" brings to mind a business on the cutting edge of technology, that is changing the way we live, think and interact with the world. Surely, the company that holds that vaunted title is some developer of a soon-to-be-groundbreaking iPad 4 app that will be able to predict a newborn's genetic future with a two-second scan of its iris. Right?

Not according to Forbes, at least not this year.

Instead, the billionaire-ranking business magazine has picked a rapidly-growing fast food chain, Smashburger, for the honor of the title.

The gourmet burger chain was founded in Denver in 2007, but has quickly become nationally known for its wide-ranging toppings and cultish following. Forbes writes that, including franchises, there are now 143 locations in America alone. And Smashburger is already making moves overseas. In September, the company announced its intention to open eight Smashburger outposts in the Persian Gulf region over the next several years. And just today, David Prokupek, the CEO of Smashburger, revealed plans for a major expansion in central Canada, with two restaurants slated for Calgary in 2012 and 10 to 15 others planned in Calgary and Edmonton down the road.

The Forbes article cited Smashburger's innovative incentive-based employee pay and the chain's relatively adventurous menu as factors that have set the company apart from its competitors.

Smashburger emerged as the magazine's choice for the most promising company after the company paired with data firm CB Insight to analyze performance and growth potential at over 30,000 American businesses. Other food companies that made the top 100 include snack maker Popchips, meal delivery service Fresh Diet and healthy vending machine manufacturer HUMAN Healthy Vending.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of Smashburger's CEO, David Prokupek.

Comments

[pfreddie88]

04:41 PM on 05/29/2012

Smashburgers are ridiculously delicious.

[Billysees]

03:36 PM on 05/26/2012

Burgers and pizza are the best foods in the "whole wide world".

[Woogie DeCat]

12:10 PM on 12/06/2011

Smashburger cooks the food after you order it and it is hot and good for what it is. Fresh beef, fries or onion rings. Interesting toppings for the burgers. I eat there maybe once a month and it is better than fast food from the big chains. If you don't mind spending $10 or so for your meal, it is not a bad place to go. Never tried 5 Guys or In'N'Out Burger so I can't compare.

[ttimotteo]

05:09 PM on 12/04/2011

This is what the job creators came up with?

[majesticjkr]

06:22 PM on 12/02/2011

what must the rest of the world think of us, when anyone talks about america the first thing they think about is a burger,

[paxatman]

03:00 PM on 12/02/2011

Another heart attack-on-a-plate.

[aphextwin07]

02:13 PM on 12/02/2011

I can tell this place is a winner by the mere inclusion of fried egg as an optional topping. you'd think other burger places would get with the times.

[kevin chamow]

01:42 PM on 12/02/2011

I have to agree to a degree. Do we really need another burger joint stuffing more fat and cholesterol in our diets? I guess the market has spoken??

Kevin Chamow

[rnl52]

07:23 AM on 12/04/2011

Yes, Kevin, we do. I have a hambuger once every two weeks, in between my salads and salmon, and I eagerly anticipate them, with bacon, avacado and cheese, of course.

[pfreddie88]

04:42 PM on 05/29/2012

and egg...

[Astrazoic]

12:50 PM on 12/02/2011

Awesome. Another company producing crap designed to make Americans even sicker than they already are. Promising indeed...to the rest of the world.

[nutsaccoupe63]

12:35 PM on 12/02/2011

I THINK THIS ARTICLE WAS A PITCH TO BUY STOCK IN THE COMPANY,, NOTHING OF VALUE WHEN IT CAME TO BURGERS

[markscoular]

07:05 PM on 12/02/2011

privately owned by a Billionaire. they don't need your money

[NHBill]

12:01 PM on 12/02/2011

Another burger joint?

A burger is about the easiest thing in the world to cook.
And No fast food joint makes one better.
When I eat out I order something that's a pain in the butt to make.
Not burgers.

[Steven Kippel]

11:52 AM on 12/02/2011

Never heard of them.

[wewin]

11:34 AM on 12/02/2011

I just had Steak and Shake for the first time recently. I will try Smash Burger next, in about 20 years!

[lightnessandjoy]

10:02 AM on 12/02/2011

American exceptionalism!

[Astrazoic]

12:51 PM on 12/02/2011

Or American Expansionism, from a certain point of view.

[trying this again]

09:29 AM on 12/02/2011

There's one down the street from me but I've never tried it. Then again, I've also never tried a Whataburger and there are three within a 5 mile radius. I'm not a big hamburger fan. Judging from the comments about Smashburger, I will continue to drive past it.

[Veronix1617]

01:54 PM on 12/03/2011

I tried Whataburger seven years ago and was underwhelmed. I was equally unimpressed with In&Out. If I get a craving for a burger I would rather cook my own.

[trying this again]

03:37 PM on 12/03/2011

Yeah when we cook our own burgers we know what's in them.

[gneep]

08:26 PM on 12/03/2011

every single time (not kidding at all) I have went to in&out, there was so much salt it seemed they were playing a joke on me.....