Holy Cow!

Holy Cow! started in 2009 in the back streets of Lausanne with a simple promise: a fresh gourmet burger made from local ingredients, served in five to eight minutes, as fast as a fast-food chain. The recipes came from the travels of its founder, Richard, and the original slogan invited customers to “join the fast-food revolution”. In 2017 a small group of local entrepreneurs led by Adrian took the brand over and grew it into a national chain, with Richard staying on to look after quality.

The chain leans hard on being Swiss. The beef and chicken are Swiss, the drinks are Swiss-made down to its own Holy Cola, and several burgers are built around Swiss cheeses and dishes, from Vacherin Fribourgeois to rösti. In 2023 it joined the Better Burger Society, a partnership of gourmet burger chains from different European countries.

Restaurants across Switzerland, including one at Zurich Airport.

• Burgermeister (Germany, since 2006). The Berlin burger chain that started in an old public toilet under the U-Bahn. Also built on beef, bacon, barbecue sauce and crispy onions.
• Patty & Bun (United Kingdom, since 2012). The London burger joint that names its burgers after TV characters and soul singers. Also built on beef, bacon, cooked onions and cheese.
• Goiko (Spain, since 2013). Spain’s burger obsession, where the bestseller is named after Kevin Bacon. Also built on beef, bacon, crispy onions and cheese.
• Honest Burgers (United Kingdom, since 2009). The London burger chain that comes with rosemary salted chips. Also built on beef, bacon and cheese.