Holy Cow!
Holy Cow! is a Swiss gourmet burger chain founded in 2009 in Lausanne, operating 22+ company-owned and franchised restaurants across Switzerland serving Suisse Garantie-certified beef, chicken, and veggie burgers to individual consumers via dine-in, take-away, click & collect, and third-party delivery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Holy Cow! does
Holy Cow! is a Swiss gourmet burger restaurant chain founded in 2009 in Lausanne by founder Richard, operating 22+ locations across both French-speaking (Romandie) and German-speaking Switzerland, including university campuses (EPFL), central business districts, and travel retail (Z\u00fcrich Airport). The chain differentiates on exclusively Swiss-sourced ingredients certified under the Suisse Garantie label, fries from the Seeland region processed in Swiss sunflower oil, and artisanal dessert partnerships (Les Oliviers ice cream, St. Gallen syrups). The menu centres on beef, chicken, and veggie burgers with complementary salads, Swiss-made beverages (including its own Holy Cola brand), and rotating limited-time creations driven by an annual employee Burger Creativity Challenge.
The operating technology stack is light and consumer-facing: a proprietary iOS/Android loyalty app built on the 5Loyalty platform providing QR-based point collection (50 points per CHF 10 spent; 1,000 points = CHF 10 discount) and Click & Collect pre-ordering, supplemented by third-party home delivery via Uber Eats and Just Eat across all operating cities. Marketing relies on owned social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), email newsletter, app push notifications, and website news content; no paid acquisition channels were disclosed. The company employs 300+ staff from 25 nationalities and operates an open-kitchen service model with ~10-minute ticket times.
Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) counter and table dine-in plus take-away sales at company-owned and franchised restaurants; (2) commission-bearing orders through Uber Eats and Just Eat; and (3) franchise fees and ongoing royalties under an active franchise recruitment programme. Customer segments are horizontal and consumer-led, with student menus (from CHF 14.90) and a kids menu creating price-tier access alongside the adult regular menu. Pricing is unitar-based and varies by location; no public ARR, GMV, or unit-economics disclosures exist, and the company remains privately held by its founder with no disclosed external funding.
Holy Cow! firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Holy Cow!
- Legal name
- Holy Cow!
- Website
- https://holycow.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Holy Cow! is a Swiss gourmet burger chain founded in 2009 in Lausanne, operating 22+ company-owned and franchised restaurants across Switzerland serving Suisse Garantie-certified beef, chicken, and veggie burgers to individual consumers via dine-in, take-away, click & collect, and third-party delivery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Holy Cow! industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Burger Restaurants
- NAICS
- Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Burger Fast Casual (THAFABAA)
Keywords
Where Holy Cow! is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices23 records
Markets served
Holy Cow! business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Dine-in and Take-away Restaurant Sales: Revenue generated from burger, chicken, veggie, salads, beverages, and dessert sales at 22 restaurant locations across Switzerland, including dine-in and take-away orders placed directly at the counter.
- Third-Party Delivery Orders: Revenue from orders placed through delivery aggregator platforms Uber Eats and Just Eat, which operate as third-party ordering and delivery partners covering all cities where Holy Cow! is present.
- Franchise Fees: Holy Cow! recruits franchisees through a business development form on its website. Franchise partners pay fees to operate under the Holy Cow! brand and receive support for site selection, opening, and operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Student Menu |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Loyalty Program (1000 points = CHF 10) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Regular Menu Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Holy Cow! product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Holy Cow! is a Swiss gourmet burger restaurant chain operating 22+ locations across Switzerland, serving Suisse Garantie-certified beef, chicken, and veggie burgers alongside salads, Swiss-made drinks, and desserts prepared fresh in open kitchens. The company supplements in-restaurant dining with a 5Loyalty-powered mobile app offering QR-code-based loyalty points and Click & Collect ordering, plus home delivery through Uber Eats and Just Eat, and an active franchise program.
Product overview
Holy Cow! is a Swiss gourmet burger restaurant chain founded in 2009 in Lausanne. The core offering is gourmet burgers (beef, chicken, and veggie) made with Suisse Garantie-certified Swiss meat and fries, complemented by signature salads, Swiss-made beverages, and desserts including artisanal ice cream and cookies. The company operates a digital ecosystem comprising a loyalty app with QR-based points system and click & collect functionality, plus home delivery via Uber Eats and Just Eat. Additional services include the Burger Love charitable fund and Taphouse Bar concept at select locations. The product portfolio is unified around the burger chain concept with digital and delivery add-on services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Beef Burgers Gourmet beef burgers prepared fresh in open kitchens from Suisse Garantie-certified Swiss-sourced beef, served at all Holy Cow! restaurants across Switzerland as the chain's signature menu category.
- Chicken Burgers Gourmet chicken burgers prepared fresh in open kitchens from Suisse Garantie-certified Swiss-sourced chicken, served at all Holy Cow! restaurants across Switzerland as a core non-beef menu category.
- Veggie Burgers Plant-based veggie burgers served as a vegetarian menu option at all Holy Cow! restaurants across Switzerland.
- Signature Salads (Fitnessteller) Signature salads branded as Fitnessteller offered as a lighter menu option at Holy Cow! restaurants across Switzerland.
- Swissmade Drinks Swiss-made beverage offerings served at Holy Cow! restaurants across Switzerland as part of the menu variety.
- Desserts Dessert offerings served at Holy Cow! restaurants across Switzerland, including items such as handmade ice cream and artisanal cookies launched in subsequent years.
- Holy Cow! Loyalty App Mobile loyalty application for iOS and Android, powered by the 5Loyalty platform, that enables customers to collect points via QR-code scans at checkout, access in-app discount coupons, place Click & Collect orders, and engage with the brand across all Holy Cow! restaurants.
- Click & Collect Ordering Pre-order and pick-up service integrated into the Holy Cow! loyalty app, enabling customers to place orders in advance and collect them at the restaurant.
- Home Delivery Service Home delivery service for Holy Cow! menu items, operated through third-party delivery platforms Uber Eats and Just Eat across Switzerland.
- Taphouse Bar Concept Taphouse bar concept operated at select Holy Cow! restaurant locations (introduced in Fribourg in 2023), extending the brand's venue format beyond traditional burger dining to include a bar experience.
- Franchise Program Franchise offering under which entrepreneurs and operators can open and run Holy Cow! gourmet burger restaurants using the brand's operating model, supply chain, and digital infrastructure.
Quantifiable outcome
- Just Eat Best Restaurant Chain of the Year 2022 — recognized for quality, passion for gourmet burgers, and customer satisfaction
Companies that use Holy Cow!
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Holy Cow! technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
Holy Cow! partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Uber EatscoreUber Eats serves as Holy Cow!'s home delivery partner, enabling customers to order Holy Cow! gourmet burgers for home delivery in all cities where the chain has a presence. Orders are placed through the Uber Eats platform.
- Just EatcoreJust Eat is a delivery aggregator partner enabling Holy Cow! customers to place delivery orders through the Just Eat platform in Switzerland. Holy Cow! was recognized as Just Eat's Best Restaurant Chain of the Year 2022.
- Les OliviersminorLes Oliviers, based in Sainte-Croix (Canton of Vaud), is Holy Cow!'s artisanal ice cream supplier. Their handcrafted ice creams (including sorbets and dairy ice creams made with Gruyère AOP milk) are available as desserts at all Holy Cow! locations across Switzerland.
- 5Loyalty (App Technology Partner)core5Loyalty provides the technology platform powering Holy Cow!'s loyalty mobile app, including QR-code-based point collection, Click & Collect ordering, and in-app discount coupon delivery.
- Swiss Syrup Producer (St. Gallen)minorA family-run producer from St. Gallen specializing in natural fruit syrups made without preservatives, supplies Holy Cow! with Swiss-made syrups. The producer shares Holy Cow!'s values of quality, proximity, and sustainable production.
- Swiss Potato Supplier (Seeland Region)minorHoly Cow! sources potatoes exclusively from suppliers in the Seeland region (Lake Neuchâtel, Lake Biel, Lake Morat area), one of Switzerland's most fertile agricultural zones. Potatoes are processed into fries in Swiss sunflower oil.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Holy Cow! competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Burger King Switzerland: Mass-market burger chain with a national Swiss footprint, drive-throughs, and delivery partnerships. Comparable on the burger QSR category but priced and positioned well below Holy Cow!.
- McDonald's Switzerland: Dominant QSR operator in Switzerland with nationwide coverage and dine-in, take-away, and delivery infrastructure. Competes with Holy Cow! for everyday burger occasions at the value end of the market.
- Carl's Jr. Switzerland: American burger chain with Swiss presence, competing for premium-burger occasions against Holy Cow! with similar dine-in and delivery models. Broader portfolio than a single-category gourmet concept.
- Subway Switzerland: Nationwide Swiss sandwich chain with broad geographic coverage and comparable dine-in and take-away use cases. Competes for casual and lunch occasions even though the core product is sandwiches.
Direct peers
- Five Guys: American gourmet-burger chain with Swiss locations that competes head-to-head with Holy Cow! on premium beef burgers, fresh preparation, and dine-in dining experience. Most directly comparable competitor on positioning and menu architecture.
Emerging players
- Dean & David: Swiss-founded fast-casual restaurant chain offering bowls, salads, and burgers with a similar health-conscious and fresh-prepared positioning. Comparable on Swiss fast-casual culture and ingredients narrative rather than on classic burgers.
- Urban Hamburger Restaurant: Local Swiss gourmet burger restaurant competing in the same dine-in, fresh-prepared, premium-ingredient niche as Holy Cow! at a smaller scale of one or a few locations.
Regional players
- Hans im Glück Burgergrill: German/Austrian premium burger concept expanding into Switzerland with dine-in, craft cocktails, and stylized interiors. Comparable on premium-burger positioning but primarily a German-speaking market entrant rather than a Swiss-domestic brand.
- Peter Pane Burgergrill & Bar: German premium-burger chain with dine-in, cocktails, and bar elements similar to Holy Cow!'s Taphouse Bar concept. Comparable on positioning but is primarily German-market, not Swiss.
Others
- Birdhaus / Swiss Gastro Group: Local Swiss restaurateurs and hospitality groups operating comparable casual dining and burger concepts. Categorized as adjacent / enabling rather than direct competitors but share dining-out demand in Swiss urban centers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Holy Cow! social profiles
Digital presenceHoly Cow! compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Holy Cow! financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Holy Cow! leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Holy Cow! funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Holy Cow! M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Holy Cow!
What does Holy Cow! do?
Holy Cow! is a Swiss gourmet burger restaurant chain operating 22+ locations across Switzerland, serving Suisse Garantie-certified beef, chicken, and veggie burgers alongside salads, Swiss-made drinks, and desserts prepared fresh in open kitchens. The company supplements in-restaurant dining with a 5Loyalty-powered mobile app offering QR-code-based loyalty points and Click & Collect ordering, plus home delivery through Uber Eats and Just Eat, and an active franchise program.
Is Holy Cow! a public or private company?
Holy Cow! is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Holy Cow! founded?
Holy Cow! was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Holy Cow! based?
Holy Cow! is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Holy Cow! make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dine-in and Take-away Restaurant Sales are the primary driver. The others are third-Party Delivery Orders and franchise Fees.
Who are Holy Cow!'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Burger King Switzerland, McDonald's Switzerland, Carl's Jr. Switzerland and Subway Switzerland. Five Guys is listed as a direct peer. Emerging players are Dean & David and Urban Hamburger Restaurant. Regional players are Hans im Glück Burgergrill and Peter Pane Burgergrill & Bar. Birdhaus / Swiss Gastro Group is listed as an others.
Does Holy Cow! have an API?
No public API is recorded for Holy Cow!.
What industry is Holy Cow! in?
Holy Cow!'s product category is Burger Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFABAA, Burger Fast Casual. Its NAICS code is 722513 and its SIC code is 5812.