Quick fast-food chain to be replaced by Burger King

The hamburger chain Quick, French-owned but with outlets across Belgium, is in the process of transforming into Burger King restaurants, new owners QSR Belgium said. QSR is a subsidiary of the investment fund Kharis Capital, which acquired the Quick chain from the French Groupe Bertrand for an undisclosed sum.

Quick’s 101 restaurants in Belgium and Luxembourg have been on sale since the beginning of the year, after Bertrand said it wanted to concentrate on the French market, where it is the main Burger King franchise holder. The restaurants in the French chain will also be converted, meaning that the red Q sign will soon disappear from the streetscape altogether.

Quick made a profit of €977 million last year, down 5.1% on 2014 as a result, the company said, of increased competition and of the terrorist attacks in Paris in November and the knock-on effect in Brussels. Quick Belgium saw profits drop by 6% to €85 million. Of the 101 restaurants, 85 are operated under franchise.

Burger King also now works principally with franchise holders – 14,927 of the total worldwide of 15,003 restaurants. QSR has acquired its own licence to use the Burger King brand.

“We are delighted to be able to launch the Burger King brand in Belgium,” QSR spokesperson Daniel Grossman said in a statement. “We are looking forward to a smooth transformation of the restaurants.”

Photo: Illustra

Quick fast-food chain to be replaced by Burger King