List of countries with Burger King franchises


This is a list of countries with Burger King franchises. Burger King itself began as a franchise of its progenitor company, Insta-Burger King. It grew in the United States using a combination of corporate locations and franchising, before divesting itself of its corporate holdings in 2013. It began its international expansion in 1969 with a location in Canada, followed by Australia in 1971, and Europe in 1975. Latin America and South America became part of its market later in that decade, Asia followed in the 1980s, and Northern Africa and the Middle East followed shortly thereafter. Sub-Saharan Africa and the former nations of the Iron Curtain came much later, beginning in the late 1990s and continuing into the 2010s.
As of 2014, Burger King operates in almost every country in the Western Hemisphere, and most of Europe and East Asia. It has embarked on a plan to base a good portion of its future growth in the BRIC Nations of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with plans to open more than 3000 locations in three of those four countries. Burger King also has a longstanding presence at U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force installations worldwide, dating back to the 1980s under a contract with Army and Air Force Exchange Service. Today, while other chains such as Taco Bell, Popeyes, and Subway have a presence on military bases, virtually every major Army and Air Force installation hosts a BK restaurant.

History

Shortly after the acquisition of the chain by Pillsbury in 1969, Burger King opened its first Canadian restaurant in Windsor, Ontario, in 1969. Other international locations followed soon after: Oceania in 1971 with its Australian franchise Hungry Jack's, and Europe in 1975 with a restaurant in Madrid, Spain. Beginning in 1982, BK and its franchisees began operating stores in several East Asian countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. Due to high competition, all of the Japanese locations were closed in 2001; however, BK reentered the Japanese market in June 2007. BK's Central and South American operations began in Mexico in the late 1970s, and by the early 1980s it was operating locations in Caracas, Venezuela, Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
While Burger King lags behind McDonald's in international locations by over 12,000 stores, by 2008 it had managed to become the largest chain in several countries, including Mexico and Spain.
The company divides its international operations into three segments: The Middle East, Europe and Africa division, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean. In each of these regions, Burger King has established several subsidiaries to develop strategic partnerships and alliances to expand into new territories. In its EMEA group, Burger King's Switzerland-based subsidiary Burger King Europe GmbH is responsible for the licensing and development of BK franchises in those regions. In the APAC region, the Singapore-based BK AsiaPac, Pte. Ltd. business unit handles franchising for East Asia, the Asian subcontinent and all Oceanic territories. The LAC region includes Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands.

Africa

During 2012, the African market saw a new agreement with Grand Parade Investments of South Africa to enter Africa's largest economy, with restaurants opening in 2013. The company began its move into Sub-Saharan Africa in May 2013 when Burger King opened its first outlets in South Africa. The company sold franchise rights to local gaming and slots machine operator Grand Parade Investments Ltd. The South African operation sold over double its initial forecasts in its opening weeks with sales of $474,838 at just one of its outlets in Cape Town in its first seven weeks. In a deal with local petrochemical company Sasol, outlets were opened at filling stations across the country starting in 2014. In April 2014 it was announced that due to high demand, the number of new outlets being opened in 2014 would be increased from 12 to 14 across the country. As of December 2015 there are 51 Burger King restaurants in South Africa.
Country/territoryYearenteredMasterfranchiseeNotes
Egypt2007Olayan GroupOlayan's food service subsidiary, Hana International, is the master franchisee for the Middle East and north Africa. برغر كينغ
Ghana2018SIA QSR Ghana Ltd.First location is in the Accra Mall.
Ivory Coast2015Servair Côte d'IvoireFirst location is in Marcory.
Kenya2016Servair KenyaFirst location in the Hub Karen, Nairobi.
Morocco2011General First Food ServicesFirst location is in Casablanca; halal.
South Africa2013Burger King South Africa LtdFirst location opened in Cape Town on 9 May 2013, with plans for more nationwide.
Tunisia2019General First Food Services TunisiaFirst location is in Sousse in the Mall of Sousse; halal.

Asia

The first Burger King in Asia opened in Des Voeux Road, Hong Kong on 7 August 1979, as the 2500th Burger King globally. In 1982, franchisees opened stores in several East Asian countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. Due to high competition, it withdrew from the Japanese market in 2001. However, Burger King reentered the Japanese market by opening the first store in Shinjuku, Tokyo in November 2006.
It also reentered the Hong Kong market in December 2007. This time its Hong Kong operation is wholly owned by North Asia Strategic, who obtained the exclusive right to operate from BK AsiaPac Pte Limited. The first store was opened on 29 December 2007 in the Sun Arcade, Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. As of 2008, 15 stores were in operation, including five in Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and five in the New Territories. However, due to fierce competition, legal problems, and rising rents, the number of stores was reduced to two in late 2015.
2012 saw a major international expansion initiative. The primary thrust was aimed at the BRIC nations, with several new master franchise agreements in those countries that will eventually create upwards of 2500 new stores by 2020. One of these deals also creates the single largest international franchise agreement in the company history, a deal to open over 1000 stores in China with a new "super"-franchise headed by the Kurdoglu family of Turkey. An updated agreement with its Russian franchisee will see a major expansion into Siberia. This move puts Burger King in a superior position to its chief rival McDonald's, as it currently doesn't operate any locations east of the Ural Mountains.
CountryYearenteredMasterfranchiseeNotes
Afghanistan?Army and Air Force
Exchange Service
Bahrain?Jawad Business Group Halal
Bangladesh2016Tiffin Box Ten branches opened in Dhaka as of 2019.
Brunei2014Sinofood ExpressThe first store opened in February 2014 in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Cambodia2013?Opened in Phnom Penh International Airport on 1 March 2013
China2005?汉堡王 12,000th location opened in Beijing.
Hong Kong1979North Asia Strategic Holdings, Ltd.漢堡王 / 堡加敬 / 漢堡飽王
Ever operated in Hong Kong between 1970s–1990s
India2014Blue Foods, Everstone The first store opened in November 2014 in Delhi.
Indonesia1980PT. Mitra Adiperkasa, TbkThe first outlet was opened in Jalan MT. Haryono, Jakarta and closed in 1998 after the 1997 Asian financial crisis. It was opened again in April 2007 with the biggest outlet in Southeast Asia, with management from PT. Mitra Adiperkasa, Tbk. The first outlet was in Senayan City, Jakarta.
Halal
Israel2016Pierre Besnainouברגר קינג Previously operated in the country from 1994–2010. The locations were Re-branded as Burger Ranch. In June 2015, the chain announced that it will relaunch in Israel. The first branch in Tel Aviv at the location of Rabin Square was opened on 1 February 2016. Burger King Israel has 8 outlets: 4 in Tel Aviv and another 4 in Beer-Sheva, Hertzliya, Ra’anana and Hod Hasharon.
Japan2007Affinity Equity Partnersバーガーキング Previously operated in the country from 1993–2001
Jordan?Jordan American Food Co.Halal
Kurdistan Region - Iraq2019?The first branch was opened in Erbil on 18 November 2019
Kuwait1990Army and Air Force Exchange ServiceOlayan GroupThe AAFES location opened after the first Gulf War. Olayan has license for Kuwait but there were no locations as of 2011.
Kazakhstan2012Verny CapitalThe first restaurant was opened in Almaty on 28 May 2012.47 outlets as of January 2020.
Lebanon2001King Food SAL Subsidiary of OyalanHalal
Malaysia1997Cosmo Restaurants Sdn BhdSee
Maldives2013Minor International & ConglomerateOpened at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on 8 July 2013
Macau?North Asia Strategic Holdings, Ltd
Mongolia2015?9 outlets as of December 2018.
Myanmar2016Minor Food GroupOpened at Yangon International Airport on 1 July 2016
Oman2010First Food Services OmanSubsidiary of OyalanOriginally operated in the country in 1994–2005
Pakistan2013MCR GroupThe first Burger King branch in Pakistan opened in Dolmen Mall, Karachi on 5 October 2013. This was followed by an aggressive expansion strategy which resulted in opening of Burger King branches nationwide. Currently Burger King has more than twenty branches in Pakistan: various in Karachi, various in Lahore, one in Islamabad, one in Faisalabad, one in Multan, one in Wah Cantt, one in Hyderabad, one in Peshawar and one in Quetta.
Philippines1992Jollibee Foods Corporation and BK Titans Inc.
Qatar2001Premier Food ServicesHalal
South Korea1984Affinity Equity Partners버거킹
South Korea received its first Burger King store in 1984, and has 236 outlets as of November 2016. Burger King's 1000th store in Asia also opened in this country in January 2013.
Saudi Arabia1991Olayan Groupبرغر كينغ Halal
Singapore1982Burger King Singapore Pte. LtdHalal First BK Whopper Bar in Asia
Sri Lanka2013Softlogic Restaurants Pvt Ltd As of April 2017, there are 15 outlets in Sri Lanka.
Taiwan1989Nexus Point Capital漢堡王
There are 37 outlets in Taiwan as of January 2019.
Thailand1994The Minor Food GroupOffers delivery services
Timor-Leste2013Fast Food Timor Lda
United Arab Emirates1993First Food Services, LLCSubsidiary of OyalanHalal
Vietnam2011?Opened at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City on 27 November 2011

Caribbean

Burger King's growth into the Caribbean began in 1963 when the company opened its first location in Puerto Rico. These locations were the first restaurants the company opened outside the continental United States.
Country/territoryYearenteredMasterfranchiseeNotes
Antigua and Barbuda2012?Opened on 27 March, second branch opened in 1st half of 2013
Aruba1981All American Burgers Inc.First hamburger QSR to enter market
Bahamas??
Barbados2013?
Cayman Islands??
Curaçao??
Dominican Republic1994?31 Outlets See
Jamaica1985Restaurant Associates LimitedFirst location in Ocho Rios
Saint Lucia??
Puerto Rico1963?First Burger King in Latin America and the Caribbean. 185 outlets as of 2013.
Sint Maarten??
Trinidad and Tobago2008?
Saint Kitts and Nevis2017?
United States Virgin Islands??Coming Soon

Europe/Caucasus

Burger King began its expansion in Europe in 1975 with its first location in Madrid, Spain. In 1976, they opened on the Kurfürstendamm in former West Berlin, the first German Burger King branch opened its doors. Four years later in Darmstadt, Hesse, the first franchise, was opened by former football player Lothar Skala. In 1990, the first time a Burger King outlet in the neue Bundesländer opened in Dresden, then still in mobile form.
In December 2012, Burger King returned to the French market, with an agreement with multinational operator Autogrill, a move that has met with some excitement in the country. In July 1997, it was announced the chain would be leaving the country, closing its 22 franchised and 17 corporate locations, after a poorly executed entry into the market that left it unable to compete against McDonald's and local chain Quick. The partnership with Autogrill is a move to consolidate Burger King's presence in travel plazas along major highways in France, Italy, Poland and other European nations.
In November 2013, Groupe Bertrand, who owns several restaurant franchises, acquired the Burger King master franchise Autogrill, becoming one of their franchisees. In September 2015, Groupe Bertrand announced being in talks with Quick's owner, investment fund Qualium, to take over all the franchise and convert all Quick restaurants in France into Burger Kings.
In December 2013, Burger King returned to Finland, after three decades of absence. The first restaurant, located on Mannerheimintie in central Helsinki, instantly proved so popular that on every day since its opening, people queued in front of the restaurant to get in, sometimes for over half an hour. The only exception so far has been Christmas time, when the restaurant was closed. According to Mikko Molberg, the leader of the Finnish Burger King franchise, the restaurant has attracted over 2000 customers on every single day, which has surprised the restaurant employees and the franchise owners. The long queues have been extensively covered and ridiculed in social media, comparing them to people queuing in front of a McDonald's restaurant in Moscow, Russia in the early 1990s, and contrasting them with the nearly nonexistent queues at Burger King restaurants in Stockholm, Sweden.
In 2018, Burger King expanded into Azerbaijan, Greece and Kosovo, as well as re-entering the Slovakian market after nearly a 7-year absence. In June 2019, Burger King opened its doors in Albania after 7 months of hype in the QTU Shopping Mall.
In 2020, the first 3 Burger King restaurants opened in Estonia. These were opened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore had to be opened by Tallink by the popular videoconferencing software program Zoom.
in Yerevan, Armenia
Country/territoryYearenteredMasterfranchiseeNotes
Albania2019Buçaj RetailFirst outlet was opened at the QTU Shopping Mall on 1 June 2019. The outlet is the first of the 20 that have been predicated to be opened in total.
Andorra??4 restaurants in 2018
Austria?Theophil Holding GmbH46 restaurants as of May 2017
Armenia2017?The first restaurant was opened in Yerevan on 11 January 2017. Burger King currently has three outlets in Armenia.
Azerbaijan2018?The first restaurant was opened in Baku on 9 January.
Belarus2015?The first restaurant was opened in Minsk on 9 July. 20 outlets as of July 2018
Belgium2017Burger Brands BelgiumRebranding in part of 101 Quick of Belgium and Luxembourg
Bulgaria2008AmRest14 restaurants as of May 2017
Croatia2014?The first restaurant is located at the Tifon gas station on the A1 freeway. 5 outlets as of January 2019. An additional 15 outlets are expected to open in the next 3 years.
Cyprus2003WOW BurgersAll Burger King restaurants in Cyprus were closed down, after Burger King Europe launched legal proceedings against King Franchises LTD in 2012. Burger King re-entered Cyprus in 2014 by opening a restaurant in Paphos in March of that year. As of November 2019 there are 10 outlets, one of which is located inside the departure halls of Larnaca International Airport. In December 2019 it was announced that the unofficial Burger King affiliate in the Turkish occupied area in Cyprus, called Burger City, would rebrand in 2020 to become Burger King.
Czech Republic2008AmRest, Autogrill18 restaurants as of July 2018
Denmark1977?
Estonia2020TallinkFirst 3 restaurants opened in May 2020. These were the first Burger King restaurants to be opened via Zoom. A restaurant opened in 2016 also operates in Tallink's cruise ships MS Star and MS Megastar, sailing between Tallinn and Helsinki, Finland.
Faroe Islands??
Finland2013RestelFirst opened in Tampere in 1983, but closed a few years later. Returning to Finland in 2013, the first restaurant was opened in Helsinki on 13 December. As of July 2019, 58 restaurants had been opened, including two in cruise ships of ferry company Tallink, sailing between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia.
France2012Bertrand Group, AutogrillThere is one restaurant in Marseille Provence Airport, opened on 22 December 2012. There were no restaurants in France between 1997 and 2012. Returned with a restaurant in Paris, Saint-Lazare Station on 16 December 2013. In late 2015, Burger King took over French competitor Quick and will convert most of their outlets into Burger King. As of December 2019, Burger King has 335 restaurants in France.
Georgia2013TAB Gıda3 outlets in 2018
Germany1976Burger King Deutschland GmbHFirst BK Whopper Bar in Europe. +700 restaurants as of 2018, with plans to expand to 1000 until 2023.
Gibraltar??
Greece2018SSP Hellas SAFirst restaurant opened in Rhodes International Airport, followed by a second one in Athens International Airport. Two more to open in Thessaloniki and Corfu airports in 2020.
Hungary1991Fusion Kft.48 restaurants as 2019
Ireland1981OKR Group
Italy1999AutogrillThe first restaurant opened in Milan. There are 201 outlets as of May 2019.
Jersey2016Sandpiper CIThere is only one in Jersey, but there were two others in the past.
Kosovo2018Buçaj RetailVia Twitter, Petrit Selimi, Ministers of Foreign Affairs for Kosovo, confirmed the arrival of Burger King in the country. The first outlet opened at Albi Mall, Prishtina in early December 2018. 4 outlets as of July 2019. Burger King outlets are scheduled to be present in many more Kosovar cities.
Luxembourg2017?Rebranding in part of 101 Quick of Belgium and Luxembourg
North Macedonia2011TAB GıdaThe first Burger King restaurant in North Macedonia was opened in August 2011, and is located at the Skopje airport. 5 outlets.
Malta?Simonds Farsons Cisk
Netherlands1981?62 restaurants in 2019.
Norway1988King Foods35 restaurants as of 2013
Poland1992AmRest, AutogrillThere were about 70 outlets by the end of 2013.
Portugal2001Ibersol GroupIbersol also distributes Pizza Hut and KFC, under license of Yum! Brands. 39 restaurants as of 2013
Romania2008AmRest, Alpha Rocas Burger King expanded again in Romania by opening restaurants in Bucharest in 2019, after 7 years where was only one location at the Henri Coanda-Otopeni Airport, which is functional starting 2008.
Russia2010Burger Rus Ltd, Ginza ProjectThe first Russian outlet opened in Moscow on 21 January 2010. 550 outlets present as of April 2019.
Serbia2020AmRest
Slovakia2010,
returned in 2018		AmRestFirst restaurant opened in March 2010 by Tekaz, company with no previous experiences in gastronomy; closed in December 2011 due to bankruptcy. AmRest got an exclusive license in 2018 and opened their first restaurant in Slovakia on 23 November with plans to open 15 restaurants within 5 years.
Slovenia2011Sportina GroupThe first restaurant is located in the capital city of Ljubljana; it opened in March 2011.
Spain1975?First location in Europe Largest fast food burger chain in Spain Spain is the country with the biggest amount of BK restaurants in Europe, with 701 restaurants as of June 2017. Burger King opened up to 120 new restaurants in Spain from 2015 to 2017, with an expected growth of more than 750 restaurants by 2018. In late 2017 Spain had already 720 Burger King restaurants.
Sweden1976King FoodsFirst location opened in Malmö on Per Albin Hanssons väg. There are 135 restaurants as of November 2018.
Switzerland1981?Burger King opened its first location in Lugano. In May 2017 there were 55 restaurants, including Europe's first Burger King – Express.
Turkey1995TAB GıdaBurger King was introduced into Turkey in 1995. There are 651 Burger King restaurants in Turkey as of 2018. Permissible for Muslims.
United Kingdom1977?The first restaurant was located on Coventry Street in Central London. 800 restaurants in the UK of 2013.

North America

North America is the company's home territory and home to its first non-American stores; it opened its first international restaurant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 1969.
Since its purchase in 2011, Burger King has seen a 14% sales increase in its Latin American and Caribbean operations. The continued expansion in these market could provide a significant portions of Burger King's growth during the decade of the 2010s. In the Mexican market, Burger King sold 97 corporate-owned locations to its largest franchisee in that country. The deal means multi-chain operator Alsea S.A.B. de C.V will eventually operate approximately half of Mexico's 400+ Burger King locations while receiving exclusive expansion rights in Mexico for a twenty-year period.
Elsewhere in Central America, Burger King entered in a deal with another of its franchises, the Beboca Group of Panama, to create a new corporate entity to handle expansion and logistics in the LAC region, which until this time had no centralized operations group. The deal follows a unification of the company's web presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as aligning all of its various web initiatives including mobile services, Facebook presence and guest relation tools. The Latin American moves are part of a corporate plan to take advantage of the growing middle class in these regions.
Country/territoryYearenteredMasterfranchiseeNotes
Canada1968Redberry Investments Inc.First international location
Costa Rica1991?Closed in October 2015 because of numerous issues with local franchiser and license usage; returned in June 2016 with a new restaurant opened in San José
El Salvador1994?It originally started in 1993 as a food truck
Guatemala1989?First location in La zona nueve
Honduras??
Mexico1991Burger King Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.
Panama1981Adiser S.A.
United States19541957Burger King CorporationFounded as Insta-Burger King in 1954; purchased in 1957 by current company

Oceania

When Burger King moved to expand its operations into Australia, it found that its business name was already trademarked by a takeaway food shop in Adelaide. The Australian franchisee, Jack Cowin, selected the "Hungry Jack" brand name, one of then Burger King's owner Pillsbury's U.S. pancake mixture products, and slightly changed the name to a possessive form by adding an apostrophe and "s" to form the new name "Hungry Jack's". In 1996, shortly after the Australian trademark on the Burger King name lapsed, Burger King began to open its own Australian stores in 1997. As a result of Burger King's actions, Hungry Jack's owner Jack Cowin and his company Competitive Foods Australia, began legal proceedings in 2001 against the Burger King Corporation. Hungry Jack's won the case, and Burger King eventually left the country. Hungry Jack's took ownership of the former Burger King locations and subsequently renamed the remaining Burger King locations as Hungry Jack's. As of June 2019, Burger King had 83 stores operating in New Zealand. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Burger King went into receivership in April 2020.
/Shell outlet in Elizabeth Street, Hobart. From 1997 until it was rebranded in 2003 this was Hobart's first and only Burger King-branded outlet, and was the first Burger King in Australia to be located outside an airport.
Country/territoryYearenteredMasterfranchiseeNotes
Australia1971Hungry Jack's Pty LtdHungry Jack's is the master franchisee for Australia.
Guam??
Fiji2015Motibhai Group
New Zealand1993Blackstone GroupOriginal owners, TPF Group, sold the company in 2009.
Currently in receivership.

South America

Country/territoryYearenteredMasterfranchiseeNotes
Argentina1989Fast Food Sudamericana S.A.
Bolivia1999Samuel Doria Medina
Brazil2006MultipleOperates with a territorial franchises system
Colombia2008Kinco S.A.Operated during 1980s
Chile1994Fast Food Sudamericana S.A.
Ecuador1982Resrap/Alicosta Bk Holding
French Guiana??
Guyana2017?
Paraguay1995Grupo Vierci.
Peru1993Sigdelo S.A.
Suriname2008MultipleThe first restaurant is located in the capital city of Paramaribo.
Uruguay2008Adiser S.A.
Venezuela1980?

Abandoned markets

International subsidiaries

Burger King has approximately 20 foreign subsidiaries to oversee operations in the markets it does business in.
SubsidiaryCountry/territoryNotes
Administracion de Comidas Rapidas, S.A. de C.V.Mexico
BK Argentina Servicios, S.A.Argentina
BK Asiapac Y.K.JapanOversees franchise operations in Japan
BK Asiapac, Pte. Ltd.SingaporeOversees franchise operations in east Asia, the Pacific rim and Oceania except Australia
BK Grundstücksverwaltungs Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KGGermany
BK Venezuela Servicios, C.A.Venezuela
BK Development Co. LimitedHong Kong
Burger King Ltd.Gibraltar
Burger King S.a.r.l.Luxembourg
Burger King Restaurant Company Ltd.China
Burger King Ltd.United Kingdom
Burger King SEE S.A.BelgiumSubsidiary of Burger King Luxembourg; master franchisee for the Burger King Brand in Italy, Poland, Greece and Romania
Burger King A.BSweden
Burger King B.V.Netherlands
Burger King Restaurant Operations of Canada, Inc.Canada
Burger King de Puerto Rico, Inc.Puerto Rico
Burger King do Brasil Assessoria a Restaurantes Ltda.Brazil
Burger King España S.L.U.Spain
Burger King Europe GmbHSwitzerlandOversees franchise operations in Europe, Africa and west Asia
Burger King Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited ŞirketiTurkey
Burger King Interamerica, LLC
Burger King Israel Ltd.Israel
Burger King Italia, S.r.LItaly
Burger King Korea Ltd.South Korea
Burger King LLCRussia
Burger King Sweden, Inc.Sweden