Newport Beach, Calif. — Chipotle Mexican Grill has signed a development agreement to open restaurants in Mexico for the first time. In partnership with Alsea, S.A.B. de C.V. (Alsea), a leading restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe, Chipotle will open a location in Mexico by early 2026 and begin exploring additional expansion markets in the region.
“We are confident that our responsibly sourced, classically-cooked real food will resonate with guests in Mexico,” says Nate Lawton, chief business development officer at Chipotle. “The country’s familiarity with our ingredients and affinity for fresh food make it an attractive growth market for our company.”
Chipotle signed its first international development agreement in July 2023 with Alshaya Group to open restaurants in the Middle East. Chipotle and Alshaya Group currently operate three restaurants in Kuwait and two in the United Arab Emirates. Chipotle’s existing international portfolio of owned and operated restaurants includes 58 locations in Canada; 20 in the United Kingdom; six locations in France; and two in Germany. The company currently operates over 3,700 restaurants and plans to open between 315 and 345 new restaurants this year, with a long term target of operating 7,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.chipotle.com.
Alsea is a leading restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe of global brands in the quick-service, coffee shop and full-service restaurant segments. The company operates more than 4,700 units in Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Uruguay and Paraguay. For more information, visit: www.alsea.com.mx.
SOURCE: Chipotle Mexican Grill