OK, maybe they should not have changed the slogan from “Have it your way” to “Be your way”.  Yeah, we be good!

Burger King Costa Rica has announced the closure of 29 restaurants operating in the country, after a decision was taken by shareholders and the franchisor BKC US.

Since February the franchise has closed four of its stores in the metropolitan area, citing a lack of financial viability. See: “More Fast Food Closures in Costa Rica“.

In recent years the franchise has changed hands at least twice. As reported on Elfinancierocr.com , “… Public record information indicates that BK Centro America (Costa Rica) Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, the company name under which the chain currently operates, is no longer represented in the country by the Venezuelan brothers Rafael and Leo and Belloso nor Carlos Borregales -also Venezuelan-, investors who acted as managers and owners. Now, BK Centro America appears to be under the management of lawyers Rodrigo Zelaya Rodriguez and Roger Guevara Vega and the official from Burger King Corporation Julio Luis Sanchez Capo, all of whom occupy the position of managers according to the Registry. ”

The fast food market has seen the arrival of many competitors in recent years, and saturation in the sector was becoming apparent in the price war which was unleashed. If you add to that the slowdown of the Costa Rican economy, there have been clear effects on trade in this sector.

Post edition:
After the publication of this article, there may have been separate statements by franchisor and franchisee, which pointed out that the closure took place because of a “judicial order”, and both parties refer to disagreements over management of the business. According to a report by Elfinancierocr.com, “… the parent company, said that Costa Rica has been and will always be an important market, therefore it expects to reestablish the business in the country.”