Budapest’s most beloved homegrown burger business, Zing Burger, has already conquered the crowds of meat lovers around town and at festivals with their soft buns, juicy patties, fresh lettuce, crispy bacon, various cheeses, and savory sauces. However, now the Zing management wishes to expand the brand even further, and to target the markets of other Central European countries such as Poland, Austria, Romania, and Croatia with their mouthwatering handheld meals.

The first food truck full of Zing burgers opened in Budapest in 2013, and soon afterward, new and increasingly popular Zing street-food stations not only popped up at festivals, but also at several permanent locations around Hungary’s capital. Now they operate two food trucks, a permanent unit at Karaván Food Court, and four indoor stores in both Buda and Pest – but it seems like the Zing team is just getting started, as their plan for the near future is to franchise the beloved brand. The owners would like to open the first unit of the franchise this year, and they would also like to spread across the Central European market in the long run, targeting Poland, Austria, Romania, and Croatia.

“Wewould like to set rules for the image and the quality of the franchise units, with careful attention to the importation of ingredients. However, we would also like to give liberty to partners in connection with the drink selecion, the design of the interior, and the marketing strategy. Furthermore, we also aim to set a low launching price,” said Ádám Susánszky, one of the founders and owners of Zing.

Zing Burger falls into the category of the so-called fast-casual restaurants: it differs from regular fast-food restaurants, as the courses are made-to-order fresh in only a few minutes. Zing’s further advantages include that it quickly adapts to a fast-flowing urban lifestyle, while still serving fresh and additive-free meals. This industry has significantly improved over the past few years in the USA.