Smashburger Tapped for 2012 Inc. Higher Power Award

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Better-burger franchise Smashburger announced Wednesday that it ranked 9th on Inc.'s Hire Power Awards list, recognizing the largest job creators among private businesses over the last three years. Since 2008, Smashburger created 995 jobs on its way to opening 186 locations globally. The chain plans to break 200 locations by the end of 2012 and open another 70 to 80 restaurants in 2013, adding more than 225 jobs. “We are honored to be recognized with Inc.’s Hire Power Award and for our role in creating jobs in the restaurant industry,” commented Dave Prokupek, chairman and CEO of Smashburger. “With our focus on expansion, there are many exciting opportunities with our company. And no matter how fast and big we grow, we know at the heart of our great food is our employees. It's their excellent service and understanding of our culture that makes Smashburger so successful." This is the first year of Inc.'s Hire Power Awards, sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The full list will be featured in Inc.'s December/January issue as well as online at www.inc.com. “The top 100 companies on the list have created 73,032 American jobs in the three-year period from 2008 to 2011 – an amazing feat, given that much of that job growth came during the heart of the recession,” explains Inc. editor-in-chief Eric Schurenberg. “And it isn’t just the big guys that are adding jobs. Companies with less than $50 million in annual revenue make up nearly one-third of the Hire Power list.”