When you buy something through one of the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
While both Burger King and Hungry Jack’s offer a fast-food burger experience, there’s a surprising twist – they’re actually the same company in different countries…
Hungry Jack’s began in 1971 when Jack Cowin, an entrepreneur, secured the rights to franchise Burger King in Australia. However, a local chain already had the “Burger King” trademark. To navigate this hurdle, Cowin came up with the iconic “Hungry Jack’s” name, likely inspired by his own first name. The first Hungry Jack’s opened its doors in Perth, Western Australia, and soon became a hit. Despite a brief trademark dispute with Burger King in the 1990s, Hungry Jack’s has thrived as a homegrown brand, tailoring its menu to local tastes and remaining a major player in the Australian fast-food landscape.
The key difference lies in their branding. Burger King is the globally recognized name, except in Australia, where it’s known as Hungry Jack’s. This stems from a trademark dispute in the 1970s, when the Burger King franchise arrived Down Under. An existing Aussie burger chain held the “Burger King” name, forcing the American company to adopt Hungry Jack’s for its Australian locations.
Menu Matchup:
Both chains offer core items like the Whopper and fries, but there are some variations. Hungry Jack’s boasts a larger menu with Aussie-inspired offerings like the “Aussie Burger” with beetroot and the “Brekky Burger” for breakfast. Burger King, on the other hand, might feature regional specialties in certain countries.
The Aussie Burger is made from traditional fish and chips with fried egg, bacon, onion, beetroot, traditional meat, lettuce and tomato. For sides, their hot chips (french fries) are a popular choice, alongside the unique Chicken Fries, which are crispy, bite-sized chicken tenders. Shakes, soft drinks, and frozen Fanta in flavors like watermelon and passion fruit round out the menu for a familiar fast-food experience.
To cater to local preferences, Hungry Jack’s sometimes tweaks menu items. For instance, their fries are thicker and crinkle-cut compared to Burger King’s standard fries. They also offer unique desserts like the “Chocolate Thick Shake” not found at Burger King.
Brand Identity:
Hungry Jack’s has cultivated a more family-friendly image in Australia, with a distinct logo and mascots. Burger King maintains a more international, slightly edgier brand image. in 2001, Hungry Jack’s introduced their most well-known mascot, Snack Jack. Snack Jack was a clown character designed to be a fun and engaging presence at restaurants. While there haven’t been any recent mentions of Snack Jack, he remains the most recognizable mascot associated with Hungry Jack’s. It’s possible they might introduce a new mascot in the future, but for now, Hungry Jack’s relies more on their overall brand image and menu items for marketing.
So, Same or Different?
Ultimately, Burger King and Hungry Jack’s share the same foundation – delicious, flame-grilled fast food but the unique branding, menu variations, and local adaptations create a slightly different experience depending on where you find yourself craving a Whopper.
