Smashburger announced a new partnership agreement with Diqueos Tagaropulos and his company, Inversiones Platinum Brands S.A., to build five new Smashburger restaurants in the Republic of Panama over the next six years. This agreement will continue the market growth for Smashburger in Central America and represents the second territory in the region, with locations in Costa Rica in Moravia, San Jose and the Juan Santamaria International Airport scheduled to open this spring.

Smashburger to expand further into Canada with the help of its newest team member, Audra Wosik, Director of Franchise Sales in Canada. Smashburger entered the Canadian market for the first time last year with the opening of two new restaurants in Calgary. The popular better burger chain has a competitive growth plan, opening restaurants in Edmonton, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec between now and the end of 2014. Prior to joining Smashburger, Audra worked as Director of Franchise Operations for Regis Corporations where she oversaw day-to-day franchise operations for all of Canada.

Icon Burger Development Company, LLC announced the opening of its first Saudi Arabia location. The new restaurant, located in the Capital City of Riyadh, is an international store for the Smashburger brand. It is the first of 20 locations planned for the area by franchise partner Al Taqa Alia. Al Taqa Alia is planning to open two more locations in 2013, including an airport site. American franchise is planning expansion in Saudi Arabia in both traditional and non-traditional locations, including an airport site in 2013.