Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Hero Certified Burgers (3rd nomination)


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was no consensus. Like often with notability, the discussion here focused on whether the sources established sufficient notability, with editors disagreeing whether coverage is substantial or not. Minor concerns, such as violating WP:NOTDIRECTORY were not echoed by others. In the end, there is no consensus what to do with this article at this point.  So Why  20:33, 10 August 2017 (UTC)

Hero Certified Burgers
AfDs for this article: 
 * – ( View AfD View log  Stats )

'Delete and Salt, promotional advertising in and out, and let's look at the sources summarized: 1 is a local business article about an announcement with 2 closely following this example, 3 is the company's own overview, 4 is an Indiscriminate list of information on a yearly "guide", 5 is once again a company announcement but published elsewhere, 6 is back to the beginning with a local business article about the company's own pleasing words, 7 is once again a guide but in a local TV station this time, and 8 is simply another Indiscriminate local news story about a local event of interest. Now, to actually look deeper into the words: I could obviously go on there but searches find symmetrical images to this here and here, but it's clear they're all personally made profiles and not the actual material needed here for WP:CORP and it's simply not possible to ever consider a menu, wherever published, to actually be independent. WP:Deletion policy begins with do not meet the relevant criteria for content of the encyclopedia are identified and removed....Any other content not suitable for an encyclopedia. The necessary need for Salting is the past 3 deletions, all varied from AfD (2008), G11 (2014 and 2017); mainspace is not the place for hosting such repeats and certainly not when an AfD from 9 years concluded the same consensus; note that the 2014 version is what was deleted this month, therefore the 2014 AfD is no longer relevant. Ⓩⓟⓟⓘⓧ Talk 18:41, 1 August 2017 (UTC) Ⓩⓟⓟⓘⓧ Talk 18:41, 1 August 2017 (UTC)
 * "[Founder] wanted to source the best quality beef for burgers....his own personal philosophy....He found....He picked up the phone....become fast friends....[He] talks animately about his family and his work....his cattle are treated with the utmost respect....", "[He] emigrated from Canada....love of that lifestyle....pursuing his masters from Oregon State University....it was on Christmas Day morning he met his wife....", "is a build-your-own burger concept....Sides include....Ingredients include..." (as Indiscriminate as it gets if it's simply a republished menu", "all-natural, fully traceable Angus beef....high-end toppings like....Besides build-your-own burger options, include also....[Company] says they cater to....customers....if you let them know....[Prices are] $4.99....$6.49....$7.99....[or also]....5.99....6.49, choose your bread....cheese and toppings that start at $1", (these are not only immediate violations of WP:What Wikipedia, WP:Promotion, WP:Indiscriminate, WP:Not webhost and WP:Not guide, but it carries nothing but self-serving company words)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Food and drink-related deletion discussions. Ⓩⓟⓟⓘⓧ Talk 18:42, 1 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Canada-related deletion discussions. Ⓩⓟⓟⓘⓧ Talk 18:42, 1 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Ontario-related deletion discussions. North America1000 20:17, 1 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Business-related deletion discussions. North America1000 20:17, 1 August 2017 (UTC)

"Hero Certified Burgers is a Canadian restaurant chain franchise that purveys hamburgers and other quick service restaurant fare. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and was founded in 2004. It had 30 locations in 2013, and opened its first store in the United States in 2015 in Elmwood Village, Buffalo, New York. The company uses sustainably-sourced beef."
 * Comment – It is worthy to note that the previous AfD discussion for the article resulted in a keep result. Also of note is that this present version of the article does not have a promotional tone whatsoever. Below is the verbatim content of the present article body (link). The article is not promoting the company, is not encouraging consumers to do business with the company, and is not extolling any subjective descriptors of the company. The article is not "promotional advertising in and out". Pinging all participants from the last AfD discussion, except for one, who is now indefinitely blocked: North America1000 20:25, 1 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Delete as stated in my 2014 nomination. Johnny Au  (talk/contributions) 00:23, 2 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Keep. A chain of 30-ish locations is pretty notable, and the article that I can see today is quite un-promotional.  It's better to keep an article about this chain and manage its changes over time, than to simply delete it outright.   PK  T (alk)  19:02, 2


 * Keep (on the weaker side). Meets WP:AUD per coverage in National Post and CTV News. North America1000 19:42, 2 August 2017 (UTC)

This article is actually not in-depth about the company but about its business practices in a specific locale. Next, we also have the other one: None of that is actually in-depth about the business itself, but about its food products and its concepts, that cannot be significant coverage for what WP:Notability needs. When all we have are few pieces of minor coverage or for its specific trade industry, it shows there's either barely anything about the company itself or the company is actually responsible for what's noticed, either of which is not what an encyclopedia is. SwisterTwister  talk  04:15, 3 August 2017 (UTC) Lastly, when have we ever accepted an article that began with "a tasty menu" or a detailed "food menu"? That wouldn't ever satisfy WP:NPOV, WP:Not guide, WP:Now how-to or WP:NOT. Or worse when all of that is next a "unique space" which is subject to question since that's not what an encyclopedia publishes. Also, we must consider the important factors in what WP:GNG actually says: The evidence must show the topic has gained significant independent coverage or recognition, and that this was not a mere short-term interest, nor a result of promotional activity or indiscriminate publicity, nor is the topic unsuitable for [WP:What Wikipedia is not]. A topic is presumed to merit an article if: It's not excluded under WP:What Wikipedia is not.' Tim, anything that had such flashy words such as what their menu offered and what ingredients used, or what methods they use, is clearcut not independent'' and in fact emphasizes the quoted highlight above: "promotional activity or indiscriminate publicity". Also see what WP:GNG says in its "Common circumstances" section: So, as by this, we couldn't possibly take an article that begins with "[They] have tasty food" since it's not only non-encyclopedic-, but also it's subject to question on one's own individual likings or choices. It's also worth noting that the earlier Keeps themselves either acknowledged visible concerns in the article or that there wasn't enough to make it acceptable yet; as by what WP:GNG says: Articles must be in acceptable condition, not a presumed one. Next, we also have the clear fact it has not only been deleted including by CSD Speedy, but by AfD several years ago. There's been a long time, since that 2014 AfD Keep closure, that the article could've been improved, but it was in fact Speedy Deleted as G11 in our Deletion policy. How could we possibly consider any other alternative but that this would need fundamental rewriting in order to be accepted here? SwisterTwister  talk  06:18, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Delete as we've never considered the number of chain locations into notability at all and "manage its changes over time" is not a guarantee we'll get the policy-backed changes needed here, and that's actually listed at WP:CORP: '''brief announcements of mergers or sales of part of the business, simple statements that a product line is being sold, changed, or discontinued and routine notices of the opening or closing of local branches, franchises, or shops" are not factors in notability, and this should be no different whatever there is to say about the company. As for the sources, they're all still announcements or notices, and this is exactly what they say:
 * the company won the contract
 * deal made good business sense for the city
 * ''meat department....store-made pork breakfast sausages....food colouring....bakery pumped out multi-coloured bagels...."
 * ''Ace Bakery and Hero Certified Burgers teamed up with....sampling the pink bun...."
 * Keep. While there were some promotional problems in the article that got speedied a week ago, the tone was entirely repairable and far from egregiously promotional, and valid sources that fully supported a WP:CORP pass were present in it — so it should have been flagged for cleanup, not deleted outright. Bearcat (talk) 19:31, 3 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Keep - I updated their franchise count - it's now almost 60, they've doubled in three years. Doing a search uncovers numerous sources, some lists of best burgers, some passing mentions, yet also some in-depth coverage which hasn't made it into the article yet: Canadian Business Journal [], Canadian Business [] (they seem to be having a problem with their style sheet), Advisor.ca [], foodserviceandhospitality.com [] etc. TimTempleton (talk)  (cont)  22:29, 4 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Analysis - Actually the first source offered is only a local business journal which cannot be accepted by WP:CORP, see: routine communiqués announcing such matters as the hiring or departure of personnel, brief announcements of mergers or sales of part of the business, simple statements that a product line is being sold, changed, or discontinued,, routine notices of the opening or closing of local branches, franchises, or shops, quotations from an organization's personnel as story sources, or passing mention. Also, to analyze the second one, it's a local "food guide" and the third is a "top 10" list. To closely analyze these sources, I found:
 * "Since the grand opening of that first location....with a tasty food menu that adheres....sustainable....from start to finish....the owner says....he started taking the helm of his own business....[It's] is a quick service restaurant chain....[He] and his team have devised a....[Sustainable practices].... is of critical importance to Lettieri and Hero Certified Burgers....Fare includes hamburgers and veggie burgers,....only fresh cut....fries, and offers real cheese....100% Heritage Angus Beef....beef contains no preservatives or additives....The beef is seasoned....Vegetarian and gluten-free options are a big part....genuine concern about the quality of food their customers eat, [they]....[he]believes it is essential that consumers know....believes it is essential that consumers know....creating this unique space among others....soups and side auxiliary dishes....keep a focus on....primary food....that are now being sold....grow [company] at a pace that will not impede or compromise quality....[Founder] is keen to see....people understanding [they are]....doing for the health and well-being of those [consumers]....allocates prominent importance on building long-term relationships with suppliers....Visit [heroburgers.com] (this one literally ends with the company website after finishing with a "company overview", that is classic public relations, and we're not a webhost for it)
 * "Smokey turkey, Gouda, tomato, lettuce. ....Sandwich was served on a wooden cutting board....Canada’s Hero Certified Burgers....better-quality meat,....Toronto’s Hero Certified Burgers.... (this one literally only mentions them twice and, once, it's only for their menu, thus not independent significant reliable coverage; instead this article was about the concept of businesses overall)
 * "[Company] presents five patty possibilities, five cheeses, five buns....offers chicken, salmon and turkey.... (That's all! It was simply to advertise their ingredients, thus violating WP:Not guide)
 * Publication in a reliable source is not always good evidence of notability. Wikipedia is not a promotional medium. Self-promotion, autobiography, product placement and most paid material are not valid routes to an encyclopedia article....Independent sources are also needed to guarantee a neutral article can be written. Even non-promotional self-published sources, like technical manuals that accompany a product, are still not evidence of notability as they are not a measure of the attention a subject has received
 * This is starting to wear me out. The closing editor can decide on the merits of the article and its sources. 4 of the last 5 votes were keep, and a wall of text. TimTempleton (talk)  (cont)  06:29, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
 * Comment– Cherry-picked quotes from news articles does not represent the full perspective and content of those articles. North America1000 03:24, 6 August 2017 (UTC)


 * Keep - Significant restaurant chain in Canada. Quick, Spot the Quetzalcoatl! (talk) 06:34, 5 August 2017 (UTC)
 * This would be the equivalent of WP:IT'S NOTABLE but what would be the solutions on the listed concerns above or by what policy? SwisterTwister   talk  16:10, 5 August 2017 (UTC)


 * Delete. upon removal of advertising, there;s nothing left but a directory listing. The policy for that is nOT DIRECTORY, and supersedes notability guideline--we don't make directory entries for anything--there has to at least be possible non-promotional content for an article, and if there is, nobody has found it  DGG ( talk ) 01:58, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
 * I don't see any advertising. All the info comes directly from the sources, which are all reliable mainstream media publications.  It's hard to prove notability without including the notable things that journalists are writing about them. The sources are independent, so it meets WP:ORGIND.  Coverage is not trivial, so it meets WP:CORPDEPTH.  The coverage is national (for Canada - Toronto & Montreal, and technically international if you count Buffalo), so it meets WP:AUD.TimTempleton <sup style="color:#800080">(talk)  <sup style="color:#7F007F">(cont)  22:51, 6 August 2017 (UTC)


 * Delete - I'm not seeing how it passes WP:CORPDEPTH, although I admit it's pretty close. I'm also a bit confused as this article says it was created in July 2017, but the last AfD was in 2014. What's up with that? Onel 5969  <i style="color:blue">TT me</i> 04:35, 8 August 2017 (UTC)
 * It appears the article was created earlier and deleted, and then recreated and kept. You can see the AfD history in the box on the top right. <b style="color:#7F007F">TimTempleton</b> <sup style="color:#800080">(talk) <sup style="color:#7F007F">(cont)  05:32, 8 August 2017 (UTC)
 * The previous AfD discussion for the article resulted in a keep result. North America1000 01:13, 9 August 2017 (UTC)


 * Delete Not establish Notability and Depth coverage. Media is merely a Press coverage made for company. It is advertising, and does not serve encyclopedic purpose. Agree to above Delete rationale. Note: "Found 1 potential duplicate vote" Light2021 (talk) 04:23, 9 August 2017 (UTC)
 * I'm not sure what the preceding comment means about a potential duplicate vote, but Light2021 has been indef blocked so we'd have to ask him on his talk page. <b style="color:#7F007F">TimTempleton</b> <sup style="color:#800080">(talk) <sup style="color:#7F007F">(cont)  18:23, 9 August 2017 (UTC)


 * Keep, if barely. I just added a source that mentions the Buffalo location's closure, if tangentially, so there is non-promotional coverage of the chain out there. J. Myrle Fuller (talk) 16:40, 10 August 2017 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.