11 Kansas Burger Kings, including 5 in Topeka, have new owners. Here’s what is planned.

Franchisee Kansas King Inc. announced the acquisition of 16 Burger King restaurants — 11 across Kansas and five in Nebraska.

That includes all five Topeka locations, Burger King marketing representative Jamie Santarella told The Capital-Journal.

Digital upgrades and remodels will take place at Burger Kings in Topeka

The newly acquired restaurants will undergo modernization, digital upgrades, new order kiosks and select locations remodels, a release said.

Santarella said the restaurants that will be remodeled can’t be disclosed at this time.

The new acquisition is a part of the brands “Reclaim the Flame” strategy announced in September of last year, the release said. It’s aimed at working with committed operators to modernize restaurants and ultimately improve the customer experience.

Kansas King Inc. will also be hiring managers and team members at select locations, while also retaining existing team members.

Kansas King franchise owners experience in Kansas

Kim Beyer, franchise owner and operator of Kansas King restaurants, has worked for the Burger King brand for more than 27 years in the Kansas and Nebraska communities.

“Having spent my entire career working for Burger King,” Beyer said, “I have a deep love and knowledge of the brand and the Team Members that are a part of making each location a success, many of whom I will continue working alongside.”

Beyer started as a shift manager in 1996 and worked her way up to director of operations overseeing 26 Burger King locations.

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She will now become a franchise owner of 16 restaurants, alongside her strategic partner and investor Alex Gouzoun.

Gouzoun, previously operated as a vendor for Burger King North America, and worked with the brand for four years, the release said.

Together, the two bring decades of experience to the Kansas King franchise group and will oversee all 16 Burger King locations in Topeka, Salina, Manhattan, Junction City and Pittsburg in the state of Kansas, as well as Lincoln and Beatrice in Nebraska.

“Coming from the vendor side and having worked with the Burger King brand previously, I’m thrilled to be joining forces with an expert in the industry like Kim and know that together, we’ll bring these communities a truly one-of-a-kind experience the moment they visit our restaurants,” Gouzoun said.

Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.