Qdoba Continues Canadian Expansion with 5-Unit Deal for Northern Ontario

Qdoba, the Mexican fast-casual brand with more than 700 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, is expanding further into the U.S.'s northern neighbor with a 5-unit deal for Northern Ontario. The franchisee, Burgess Enterprise, is a multi-unit operator and local franchisor.

"As co-founder and operator of the Ontario-based Wacky Wings concept, I understand the value in providing an elevated dining experience," said Craig Burgess, CEO of Burgess Enterprise, in a press release. "When we looked to grow our portfolio with another restaurant, we were immediately impressed with Qdoba -- everything from the delicious food to the experienced leadership team."

Wacky's, founded in 2007 in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, has 6 locations: 2 in Sault Ste. Marie, and one each in North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, and Thunder Bay.

Burgess Enterprises' first Qdoba restaurant is scheduled to open in early 2020 in Sault Ste. Marie. The four additional openings are planned for Sudbury, Timmins, North Bay, and Thunder Bay.

"Canada is a growing market for us, and we're excited to have Craig and his team on board," said Qdoba CEO Keith Guilbault said in a press release. In 2019, Qdoba was voted the "Best Fast Casual Restaurant" as part of the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.