EMC Lands Whopper of a Deal

Burger King is beefing up its data storage capabilities with new equipment from EMC .

The Miami-based fast food chain will standardize on EMC’s Symmetrix and Clariion networked storage products to make sale information more readily available.
Financial terms were not disclosed.

“The millions of people who eat at Burger King restaurants each day generate a wealth of information that is essential for us to better tailor our products to customer
preference,” said Rafael Sanchez, Burger King’s CIO.

The move comes as Burger King separates from its parent company, Diageo . Burger King
believes the EMC’s gear will reduce data collection and maintenance costs while providing easy access to information it needs to thrive.

“Only EMC provides the automation, openness and integration Burger King and other companies must have to successfully consolidate their storage applications
under a single open management architecture,” said Frank Hauck, an EMC vice president.

The statement is a not-so-subtle swipe at EMC competitors. This year, storage players have become more combative as large companies delay or cancel large IT
projects.

At its August analyst meeting, EMC CEO Joe Tucci went after
IBM , saying the Armonk, N.Y., company gave away its Shark data storage products like the toys in
McDonalds Happy Meals.

Luckily for EMC, Tucci didn’t compare it to Burger King’s kid’s meal.