A global burger chain has ordered a local family-run restaurant to change its name.
Smash & Wings in Bushey, run by Haroon Khan and his wife Jessica, sells chicken wings and burgers made using a popular technique in which the patty is smashed down until ultra-thin.
In April 2023, nine months after opening, the couple were “shocked” to receive a letter from lawyers on behalf of American fast-food chain, Smashburger, ordering them to change the restaurant’s name.
Haroon said: “We have a completely different name, branding and look. We are a small, local, premium fast-food restaurant, so how can we be deemed a threat by a huge chain?
“This restaurant is our passion project. Our focus has always been on creating amazing food from scratch. My wife and I – and even our kids – dreamt of opening our own restaurant for many years.”
Haroon explained that a number of other restaurants describe their burgers as smash burgers, including renowned chef Gordon Ramsay OBE’s Street Burger chain.
Despite being told by solicitors and trademark specialists that the couple would have a strong case, they are unwilling to take on the huge expense of going to court. The couple have spent the last year negotiating with the chain and making concessions, but Smashburger say they are not satisfied unless the restaurant has a complete name change.
Haroon said: “As a small business, things like this can make or break you. Smashburger have plenty of budget for litigations, but as a small business in a tough economy, we would struggle to fight them.”
Smashburger has been contacted for comment.
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