Founded 1952 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Founder(s) Robert Falkenburg
Headquarters Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Products Hamburgers and Milkshakes
Employees 4,000
Parent Brazil Fast Food Corp.
Website http://www.bobs.com.br/
Bob's is the first Brazilian fast food chain, founded in 1952 by the American Brazilian tennis champion Robert Falkenburg, Wimbledon tourney winner in 1948. The first store was opened in the borough of Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro.
Falkenburg (also known as "Bob") was the first person to introduce the fast-food concept in Brazil. The first store in Rio, introduced for the first time in the country Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, milkshakes and sundaes. In 1972, however, Falkenburg sold the franchise to the Brazilian Fast Food Corporation (BFFC).
Big Bob
Among the main sandwiches sold by the company, Big Bob is the most popular and it is made of two hamburgers, onions and lettuce. The chain also offers innovative sandwiches, as Toasted cheese with banana sandwich. Another very popular item sold by the franchise is the Ovomaltine milkshake.
Business model
In 1984, Bob's started a franchising system, opening new stores in Vitória, Espirito Santo. Since then, Bob's has been expanding within Brazil and also in other countries.
Today, there are about 610 stores in every Brazilian state, of which about 320 are franchises. There are also some stores in Portugal (Carcavelos, Algés and Bragança) as well as in Chile, and Angola.
Other brands
Bob's Shakes, formerly known as "Bob's Sorvetes" (Bob's Ice Cream), sells frozen desserts such as ice cream, milk shakes and pies. It was rebranded to the current name in 2009 due to increased popularity of its milk shakes (principally the Ovomaltine's) compared to ice cream.
Bexpress by Bob's offers half-finished and ready sandwiches to be heated in the oven, which can be eaten in or carried out.
