2024-02-14 21:07:52
MANDAN, N.D. — Burger King franchisee Dakota Restaurant Partners Inc. announced Wednesday, Feb. 14, that it has acquired 14 Burger King restaurants — 10 in North Dakota including Jamestown, one in South Dakota, two in Minnesota and one in Montana.
Partnering franchise owners and operators of Dakota Restaurant Partners — Ayaz Virji, Jen Dirk, and Neerja Paul — bring more than 60 years of collective experience to the Burger King brand.
This is part of the brand’s next step for its “Reclaim the Flame” strategy announced in September 2022 aimed at bolstering and refreshing the system with committed operators and modernized restaurants designed to enhance the guest experience.
Dirk’s first job was as a team member at one of the Burger King locations she now owns in Bismarck. Dirk worked her way up to restaurant general manager, director and eventually senior vice president of operations overseeing 120 Burger King locations before becoming a franchise owner in 2023.
“Having been with Burger King for over 30 years, my knowledge and love for the brand runs deep,” Dirk said. “Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside incredible team members and managers who have allowed me to further grow in my career. I have strong personal ties to many of the locations we’re acquiring and look forward to being a hands-on operator, interacting closely with guests, being involved in the community and providing opportunities for our team members to grow within Burger King. We’ve already started implementing some of these improvements at select locations in our portfolio, which is driving increased sales and traffic, and we’re looking forward to rolling this out to all locations this year.”
Dirk is joined by Virji, who has operated as a Burger King franchisee for more than 15 years, and strategic partner and investor, Paul, who has an extensive background in customer service and hospitality.
“For the past 15 years as a franchisee with Burger King, I have learned that the pathway to success is not always straight and narrow, but with a creative lens and team members who always put their best foot forward — anything is achievable,” Virji said. “I’m thrilled to be working alongside Jen and Neerja, who are also experts in the industry and know that together, we’ll bring these communities and Guests a truly one-of-a-kind experience the moment they visit our restaurants.”
Dirk, Paul and Virji will oversee all 14 Burger King restaurants in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Jamestown and Mandan in North Dakota; Aberdeen and Yorktown in South Dakota; Moorhead and Park Rapids in Minnesota, and Sidney in Montana.
As part of the acquisition, all new locations will undergo improvements, including digital upgrades and new order kiosks, aimed at improving the overall guest experience. Select locations will undergo renovations.
Dakota Restaurant Partners Inc. will also look to acquire more restaurants in the future while retaining existing team members and adding new managers and crew members to locations as needed. Additionally, the partners continue to strive at building a strong relationship within the communities they serve with increased involvement in various activities, including local fundraisers, participation and volunteering at local events and schools and more.
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