Dunstone eyes iconic burger chain franchise
FIVE Guys Burgers and Fries, the cult US burger chain favoured by President Barack Obama, is set to branch out in London after Carphone Warehouse founder Sir Charles Dunstone moved to bring the famous restaurants across the Atlantic.
Sir Charles, who founded Carphone Warehouse in 1986, is understood to have struck a deal through his Freston Road Investments vehicle to bring Five Guys to London and expand with branches across the country.
Five Guys, which last year was voted America’s favourite burger chain in a poll by Zagat for the 10th year running, will be the latest in a long line of cult burger chains moving to London.
It follows moves by Shake Shack to open a branch in Covent Garden next year and the first steps abroad by legendary West Coast burger chain In-N-Out, which opened a pop-up restaurant in Hendon last month.
Sir Charles, who was knighted by the Queen in June, set up the Carphone Warehouse from his flat in London with just £6,000 and went on to make a fortune. He is estimated by Forbes to be worth around £830m.
He is understood to have become a fan of the chain while travelling in the US. Five Guys is led by its founder 68-year old Jerry Murrell – one of the original five guys along with his four sons – and has around 1,000 outlets.
Murrell told Forbes in August he and Sir Charles had signed a deal for 200 to 300 stores in the UK.
Sir Charles was unavailable for comment last night.