History of Burger King - Key Dates

Key Dates

Key dates include:

• 1953: Insta-Burger King is founded in Jacksonville, FL
• 1954: James McLamore and David Edgerton establish Burger King Corporation.
• 1955: The Burger King is created.
• 1957: The Whopper is launched.
• 1958: BK releases its first TV advertisement.
• 1959: The company begins to expand through franchising.
• 1967: Burger King is sold to Pillsbury.
• 1977: Donald N. Smith is hired to restructure the firm's franchise system.
• 1981: Norman E. Brinker is made head of Pillsbury's restaurant division, including Burger King.
• 1982: Burger King claims its burgers taste better than its competition's (McDonald's and Wendy's) fried burgers.
• 1989: Grand Metropolitan plc acquires Pillsbury.
• 1997: The firm launches a $70 million French fry advertising campaign; Grand Metropolitan merges with Guinness to form Diageo plc.
• 2000: Diaego investigates a possible IPO or sale of the company
• 2001: A North American franchise group seeks to purchase the company
• 2002: A group of investors led by Texas Pacific Group acquire Burger King for US$1.6 billion (bn).
• 2006: BKC, with the same stock symbol, goes public in an IPO.
• 2009: Company opens its 12,000th store, located in Beijing.
• 2010: 3G Capital acquires Burger King in a deal worth US$3.26 bn.
• 2011: Burger King Begins a yearlong revamp of it menu and advertising programs.