Hektsee
| File:Hektsee logo.png Hektsee Logo | |
| Public company | |
| Traded as | Hektsee Eethaasen AK |
| Industry | Restaurants |
| Founded | 1924 Lyborg, Southwest Vyvland |
| Founder | Vyvlander Fishing Association |
| Products | Seafood |
| Owner | Vyvlander Fishing Association (33.3%) Private investors (66.7%) |
| Website | hektsee.com |
Hektsee (Vyvlander pronunciation: /(h)eçtzeː/, English pronunciation /hɛktsiː/) is a Vyvlander fast food restaurant chain specialising in seafood. The chain operates over one thousand restaurants in Vyvland and abroad. Hektsee is Vyvland’s largest fast food chain both by total sales and number of branches.
Founded by the Vyvlander Fishing Association, a maritime trade union, in 1924, Hektsee has grown to become Vyvland’s largest restaurant chain, eclipsing foreign and domestic chains such as Frederick's Fries.
History
Hektsee was founded in 1924 as a sales venture by Hektsee Werkervederat (Haddock Sea Workers’ Federation), the Haddock Sea fishermens’ arm of the influential Vyvlander Fishing Association (VVV), Vyvland’s trade union for seamen. In response to the growth of meat as a food source in cities, the union - then the main supplier of fish in Vyvland - needed a way to boost sales of fish to avoid its prices falling. Thus it decided on opening a series of informal fish eateries in which it could offload its stock. The first of such restaurants, branded as the Hektsee Vezeethaas, was opened in Lyborg, a major fishing port on Vyvland’s southwest coast. By the end of 1924, the company had also opened branches in Jelkym, Jesel, Olsence and Elvig. Such eateries proved to be a success, particularly for working men’s lunches.
By the onset of the Vyvlander Civil War in 1935, Hektsee restaurants could be found in every province, primarily in major cities and coastal towns. As the VVV remained active in both the North and the South, most of these branches survived intact, and the chain continued to operate and grow, although its management was different in the North and South. Gradually, the chain’s northern and southern arms grew apart, with different menus and branding from the 1940s onwards.
In 1971 in response to a degree of saturation in the North Vyvlander market, Hektsee expanded to Geadland. Its initial overseas ventures were successful, leading to the opening of more restaurants in Nevanmaa and MORE COUNTRIES HERE. Hektsee Eethaasen Syf (the southern arm) remained independent of the northern Hektsee Eethaasen Norf until its the latter’s buyout of the former in 1993. In 1995, the company was restructured so for the first time, the majority of its shares were no longer owned by the VVV.
Today, Hektsee operates over 1000 restaurants in XX different countries. While in Vyvland the restaurants are take-away eateries with an informal atmosphere, outside Vyvland Hektsee restaurants tend to be slightly more formal.
Menu
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- Haarenglyvje (translates to little herring bread) is a signature dish of Hektsee, made from spiced pickled herring and gherkins in a sliced white bread bun. In Vyvland, the herring comes with a range of different topping choices.
- ‘Ekt n’Apeljen (’Addock n’chips) is also a long-term staple of Hektsee menus. Similar to the British fish and chips, this is made from battered fish served with thick chips and curry sauce or meat dripping.
- Breyfje (little broth) is Hektsee’s take on traditional Vyvlander seevryktbrauf, a broth made from fruits de mer.
Controversies
Hektsee’s association with the Vyvlander Fishing Association, a union which often takes part in disruptive strikes, has caused controversy in the past. This tension has been lessened since 1995 as the VVV no longer owns the majority of the restaurant’s shares. However during industrial disputes in 1999, Rikard Fegaad’s government controversially urged consumers to boycott Hektsee due to its links to the union.
In a 2006 employment tribunal, Hektsee was found to have paid below the minimum wage rates to twenty-two employees in its branches in Lenvord and Semons. The company reimbursed all underpaid employees with µ5000 each after losing the case.
Various issues have been raised around the quality and ingredients of Hektsee products. A 2010 study by the University of Strossen showed that 38% of Hektsee Breyfje in Strossen contained the meat of land animals including chicken, beef and horsemeat.
Branches
Add your nation's branches here
| Country | Number of branches | Year of first opening |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Country data Geadland | 432 | 1971 |
 Katranjiev |
83 | 1990 |
 Luziyca |
417 | 1983 |
| File:Flag of Nevanmaa.png Nevanmaa | 428 | 1979 |
| File:Flag vyv.png Vyvland | 772 | 1924 |
