Smashburger, the better-burger fast casual restaurant with 235 corporate and franchise locations, has partnered with jack and annie’s to launch a new plant-based burger made from jackfruit in all locations across the U.S.
“Plant-based alternatives have continued to show up on menus throughout the industry, so making sure we offer more diverse and plant-forward options was the natural transition to expand our menu,” said Smashburger Chief Restaurant Support Officer, Eric Marcoux. “Once we connected with jack & annie’s®, we knew it was the right fit with our mutual Colorado ties and shared food philosophy rooted in offering delicious, crave-worthy food made with high-quality ingredients.”
The plant-based jack & annie’s® patty has 47% less fat than that of a traditional beef burger patty and can be substituted in any of Smashburger’s Signature Burgers, single or double, to give customers more plant-based options to choose from.
Sold in both retail and foodservice locations, jack & annie’s® products are available in more than 5,000 stores across the country. In cementing this partnership with Smashburger nationwide, this signifies the first-time jack & annie’s® is available at a fast casual restaurant and jack & annie’s®/The Jackfruit Company (2 brands, 1 company) is poised to make 2024 a significant and strategic year of growth, efficiently closing in on profitability.
“This launch with Smashburger marks an incredible milestone for the team and signals a new chapter of growth for jack & annie’s®,” said Annie Ryu, Founder and CEO of jack & annie’s®. “We’re excited that consumers across the nation will get to taste what we have known all along: our jackfruit offerings make for delicious and simple plant-based, plant-forward food with naturally meaty taste and texture. We are thrilled to move the plant-based category forward. Because with jackfruit, we’ve found a path for consumers that is sustainable, healthier, and provides the tasty experience they are looking for.”
