Hesburger

Hesburger (commonly known in Finland as Hese) is a fast-food chain based in Turku, Finland. Today, it is the largest Finnish hamburger restaurant chain, with a larger presence in the Finnish market than U.S.-based McDonald's. With only 12 outlets in 1992, Hesburger expanded to over 200 restaurants in 60 towns across Finland over the following decade, absorbing rival chain Carrols in 2002. Hesburger has also expanded to international markets, opening outlets in the Baltic states and Germany. There was a Hesburger in Damascus, Syria for a short period between 2004 and 2006, but it was closed as unprofitable. Hesburger has about 260 restaurants in Finland, 31 in Latvia, 29 in Estonia, 37 in Lithuania, four in Germany, eight in Russia and one in Ukraine. Hesburger continues with attempts to penetrate the Middle East markets, via contracts with local companies.

The company name comes from the nickname of the founder, Heikki "Hese" Salmela.

The chain's history reaches back to 1966, when Heikki Salmela (born 1946) opened a street food kiosk in Naantali. He later opened the first Hesburger in 1980 in Turku, which became the first element of the first fast food restaurant chain in Finland. In the 1980s the chain grew fast. Salmela sold the chain and several hotels in 1988 for almost 200 million Finnish markkas. Three years later, during the recession, he bought it back for 25 million.

Many Hesburger restaurants offer WiFi coverage, and some use RFID and other real-time commerce technologies to serve the customers.

There is also a Hesburger Hotel located in Finland's third largest urban centre, Turku. This Hesburger hotel has a 24 hour Hesburger restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel, which is also the reception of the hotel when checking in. The rooms of the hotel also offer free internet access.

Hesburger primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, salads, french fries, soft drinks, milkshakes, and desserts. Hesburger also have kebab restaurants (which offer a kebab menu in addition to the normal one) and pasta restaurants (which offer a pasta menu in addition to the normal one), Hesecafes (which sell pastries and specialty coffees), hot dog outlets, and restaurants which also offer carwash services to their customers.

Locations operate in the following countries: Had restaurant(s): Planning to open in:
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇪🇪 Estonia
 * 🇱🇻 Latvia
 * 🇱🇹 Lithuania
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine
 * Syria (2004-2006)
 * 🇵🇱 Poland
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil

Operations

 * Hesburger hamburger restaurants
 * Hesburger pasta restaurants (pasta menu in addition to the normal one)
 * Hesecafe (hamburgers, specialty coffees and pastries)
 * Hesehotelli (a hotel with 24 hours Hesburger restaurant acting also as the hotel reception)
 * Hese kotituotteet (retail products)
 * Hese Nakkari (snack kiosk products)
 * Heseautopesu (car wash services for Hesburger customers)