Buffalo Wild Wings(R) Franchise Announces Canadian Expansion Plans

By: Buffalo Wild Wings | 1 Shares 175 Reads

In response to Canadian consumer demand, top U.S. grill & bar is heading north

MINNEAPOLIS (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Buffalo Wild Wings(R) (NASDAQ: BWLD) today announced its intention to expand into the Canadian marketplace with a five-year plan that will see more than 50 company-owned and franchised restaurants open across the country. Southern Ontario will be home to the first two locations slated for spring 2011, including the corner of Taunten Road and Harmony Road in Oshawa, and a second location in Mississauga.

An additional 30 sites in Ontario are planned and locations are currently being scouted. If the thought of wings with 14 boldly flavored sauces has your mouth watering already, don't worry because a Buffalo Wild Wings may be heading your way. Canadians across the country will have the opportunity to compete in the Company's exclusive "Blazin' Challenge" soon enough. The Company is looking to expand in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan as part of its five-year plan. Following this, Buffalo Wild Wings says it will head east toward Quebec and the Maritimes.

"The Buffalo Wild Wings experience is truly unique - from our always fresh, never frozen wings to our signature sauces and our true passion for sports. We believe Canadians' passion for sports and chicken wings is a great fit for us and is ideal for our first international location," said Sally Smith, Buffalo Wild Wings President and CEO. "We have significant growth plans for this market and feel that Canadians are ready for the great food and fun, social atmosphere that we offer."

The U.S. operation of Buffalo Wild Wings has experienced incredible growth increasing its footprint from 35 to 680 stores in the last 12 years. Smith and her leadership team are confident that Canada offers a similar environment for success.

The expansion will add over 3,500 jobs to Canada with each restaurant looking to hire between 50 to 75 employees. Recruitment for restaurant managers is already underway and a job fair is expected to be announced in the coming months.

Like sports? The restaurants have become the place to watch sporting events in the U.S. From kick-off, tip-off or the first drop of the puck through overtime, Guests enjoy great food and a wide selection of beers surrounded by an extensive multi-media system with more than 40 large high definition televisions and eight big screens. Each Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant is a neighborhood destination with a unique design in 5,700 sq. ft. that seats approximately 300 Guests, and is typically a free-standing building.

All locations will offer the restaurant's namesake; true Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings. Buffalo Wild Wings offers the highest quality, fresh, never frozen wings; 14 flavorful signature sauces, four dry wing seasonings and a full menu of burgers, appetizers and flatbreads, all designed to easily share with friends. As a tribute to its new Canadian hosts, the company will serve Canadian beers, including local craft brews, and a honey garlic sauce, an option not currently available in the U.S. operations

The Canadian operation, BWLD Canada LP, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. which operates out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company is listed on NASDAQ as BWLD.

About Buffalo Wild Wings:

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a growing owner, operator and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar(TM) restaurants featuring a variety of boldly flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings. The Buffalo Wild Wings' menu specializes in eighteen mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings with flavor sensations ranging from Sweet BBQ(TM) to Blazin'(R). Guests enjoy a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that includes an extensive multi-media system for watching their favorite sporting events. Buffalo Wild Wings is the recipient of hundreds of "Best Wings" and "Best Sports Bar" awards from across the country. There are currently over 680 Buffalo Wild Wings locations across 43 states.

SOURCE: Buffalo Wild Wings

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