Type Subsidiary Founder Bob Falkenburg Number of employees 4,000 | Industry Fast food Motto Gostoso é no Bob’s Parent organization Brazil Fast Food Corp. | |
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Products Hamburgers and milkshakes Founded 1951, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Headquarters Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Profiles | ||
Bob’s ([ˈbɔβ(i)ʃ], [ˈbɔps], [ˈbɔβ(ɨ)ʃ]) is the first Brazilian fast food chain, founded in 1952 by the American Brazilian tennis champion Robert Falkenburg, Wimbledon tournament winner in 1948. The first store was opened in the Copacabana neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
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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, 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 leaf chicory.
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, Espírito Santo. Since then, Bob’s has been expanding within Brazil and internationally.
Today, there are over 1000 stores in Brazil, 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, milkshakes, and pies. It was rebranded to the current name in 2009 due to increased popularity of its milkshakes (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.