[Burger Business] GBK launches the 15-minute burger lunch

I make no secret of the fact that I've had mixed experiences of Gourmet Burger Kitchen over the years. Back in the early naughties, GBK was the only burger joint doing anything like a decent burger on the high street. Then came the copy-cats like Ultimate Burger and other generics, and burgers became more mainstream, then the copy-cats started to drop like flies in the face of a new wave of bodacious competition. Somehow GBK has resolutely hung on in there.

Back in 2012, GBK began a programme titled 'upping the game' to respond to the threat of other, more popular, burger joints that were in their ascendancy (I'm looking at you, Byron) and riding the wave of burger fever that gripped London. Joints which made GBK's large, complicated menus and cookie-cutter restaurant design look deeply uncool.

[Infographic] Burgers are big business in the UK - but how big?

An infographic popped into my inbox the other day that gives a great overview of the burger boom experienced in the UK in 2013. It was created by Rangeland foods (purveyors of the terrifying sounding 'Flamed Steakburger') and in my view does a pretty good job of demonstrating how the humble burger has come to dominate menus across the country.

I've split out some of the more interesting sections here, but you can view the full infographic at the bottom of this post.

The Burger Boom:

Burgers are the number 1 menu item in the UK - outranking Pizza, Fish and Chips and Steak. They've always been my number 1, so thankfully others are starting to agree.

[Burger News] Five Guys come to Covent Garden, London

Shortly after the announcement that Danny Meyer's Shake Shack are opening up in Covent Garden, London, cult American burger restaurant Five Guys Burgers and Fries dropped their bombshell - they'd also rented space at 1-3 Long Acre in Covent Garden and are opening the DAY BEFORE Shake Shack. And so the invasion is officially on...

[Burger News] Guide to Shake Shack in Covent Garden, London

Shake Shack launches in London's Covent Garden South Market on 5th July 2013...

Shake Shack Burger Selection (photo by William Brinson)

...so here's everything you need to know about Shake Shack's London opening, with a few surprises along the way. 

Sex, Bombs and Burgers: A Book Review

When I have some rare down-time between relentlessly exploring London's growing burger scene by seeking out the Best Burgers in London, and creating my burger-themed recipes (like my recent homemade American Burger Cheese), I like to read. Not for me stories of pirates and treasure, nor international intrigue and mystery, nor anything by E.L.James. 

No, I like to read books about burgers.

Tom Byng, Founder of Byron, on Burgers, Business, and Innovation

Tom cuts an inconspicuous figure picking his way across his crowded restaurant at One New Change, as he makes his way to where I'm sitting. I'm meeting Tom Byng, founder of Byron, to find out a little bit more about what makes Byron, and him, tick and we've arranged to meet on a Friday lunchtime in Byron's Cheapside outpost.

I've wanted to start getting more in-depth information on the thought process and personalities who are driving London's burger restaurants, and scene, and having bumped into Tom on several other occasions, he's very kindly agreed to meet and talk about some of the things he's most passionate about. Byron and burgers.

Burger Business: How do you start a burger van business in London?

This is the first in a series of articles I'm writing on the Business of Burgers.
I've been thinking over the past few months about how one would start on the road (pun intended) to setting up a burger van business. I haven't ever done it, and yet I can imagine there would be a few key challenges to overcome, and obviously some start up expenses.
So here's my list on how to set up a burger van business. I've tried to peg expenses to the number of burgers you'd need to sell to make back your investment capital @£4.50 a burger: