One of America’s favorite burger chains is about to challenge McDonald’s to a level never seen before

Be careful, Mac.

Popular burger chain Shake Shack has announced plans to open at least 1,500 new locations – more than triple the number expected a decade ago.

Shake Shack currently has 329 company-owned restaurants in the US and more than 200 internationally.

The company revealed Fox Business that it was “looking at 20 priority markets and growing more in existing regions.”

Shake Shack CEO Rob Lynch announced that Shake Shack ended the fiscal year with “a clear improvement in our profitability and returns.”

“However, we believe that we are just getting started and that we see plenty of room for growth,” he said.

Shake Shack earned total revenue of $1.3 billion in fiscal 2024, which ended on Christmas Day.

Lynch noted that several successful locations are company-operated, meaning they are owned and operated by Shake Shack rather than a franchisee.

Shake Shack opened 76 restaurants in fiscal 2024

Shake Shack opened 76 restaurants in fiscal 2024, 43 of which were company-operated.

Lynch said this was an all-time high for the company.

Shake Shack confirmed it plans to open 80 to 85 new company-owned restaurants later this year.

The chain will focus on growth in different areas, such as the US suburbs, and plans to add more drive-thru locations.

“We are committed to delivering the best fine casual experience in the world to as many guests, team members and communities as possible,” Lynch added.

When the chain went public in 2015, it announced a goal of opening 450 additional stores.

Experts expect Shake Shack’s stock to outperform other companies this year.

Analyst Josh Brown bought one of his shares the day the company went public, calling it a “spectacular winner” earlier this month. CNBC.

Shake Shack became a publicly traded company in 2015 and announced its initial goal of opening 450 new restaurants

“I’m not selling any of my shares, no matter what their price is, because I honestly believe that where this company is right now is in a place where they can really focus on margins,” he said.

“It’s small compared to a McDonald’s, a Chipotle or a Starbucks, but it’s as good a story as those stories earlier in their lives,” Brown added.

“Our 2025 guidance and our outlook for the next three years represent some of the highest growth rates in the restaurant industry as we invest and execute against our robust long-term opportunities,” said Katie Fogertey, chief financial officer of Shake Shack.

Shortly after the announcement, the company confirmed that one of its new locations will be located beneath 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York.

“We’re excited to combine Shake Shack’s classic burgers, fries and shakes with our New York City roots, history and recent reinvention of Rock Center,” said Andrew McCaughan, Chief Development Officer at Shake Shack. NBC New York.

“We hope this Shack will become a go-to place for locals, visitors and anyone who wants a taste of New York.”

Shake Shack has released little information about other locations, but Lynch noted that growth will require “some new thinking” about how the company can achieve its goal.