franchise development

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 …

Atlanta — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, is opening its first New Orleans-area restaurant in Metairie, La. Located near the Lakeside Mall and adjacent to Trader Joe’s, the April 22 opening marks the introduction of the brand to the New Orleans market. Chicken Salad Chick of Metairie marks the debut location for Nibbles Hospitality Group, led by Bill and Anne DiPaola and Tiffany and Paul Spring. The partners are two husband-and-wife teams who have signed on to bring four Chicks to the New Orleans …

Lake City, Fla. — Ellianos Coffee, a Southeast-based drive-thru specialty coffee brand, has expanded into Mississippi, with a new location under development in the state’s southern region. This development marks the sixth state in the company’s footprint. Established in 2002, Ellianos currently operates 65 locations throughout Florida, Georgia and Alabama, with locations in development in Tennessee and North Carolina. The company has expanded through its franchise model, focusing on quality products, efficient service and customer experience. Ellianos utilizes a double-sided drive-thru model to provide efficient service. “We’re excited to bring …

Atlanta — Saucy chicken chain Zaxbys™ opened its first-ever Las Vegas restaurant on April 14. Located at 5290 Blue Diamond Rd., the new Zaxbys is owned and operated by Royce Chow and Jie Zhou of Zax Nevada LLC. “Las Vegas is just the beginning of Zaxbys expansion plans as we aim to open our 1,000th store in 2025,” says Mike Mettler, chief development officer at Zaxbys. “We are thrilled to continue to build relationships with new franchisee partners and bring Zaxbys to additional growing markets including Arizona, Philadelphia, New Jersey, …

Belmar, N.J. — Playa Bowls, the nation’s largest and leading superfruit shop specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, juices, cold brew and more, is celebrating a major milestone with the opening of its 300th location. Located in Atlanta’s fast-paced Buckhead neighborhood, the milestone shop opened on March 29, 2025. This milestone reflects the strength of the concept and the dedication of Playa Bowls’ franchise owners, many of whom have grown from single-unit owners to multi-unit operators, building their own legacies while bringing the brand’s fresh, feel-good flavors to new communities. As …

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger and 17 other restaurant concepts, has formed a new partnership with the group behind Big M CIE, to expand Fatburger across France, opening 30 units over the next 3 years with five new units set to open in 2026. “Since opening our first location nearly 3 years ago in Sarcelles, we have been looking for the right strategic opportunities to continue our expansion in France,” says Taylor Wiederhorn, chief development officer of FAT Brands. “Mehdi Bella and …

Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken® and Texas Chicken™, one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant brands in the world, continues its international expansion into Europe while strengthening its presence in key global markets. The company has recently signed multiple development agreements, including one in Germany. With additional deals in other parts of Europe, this marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy. Building on this momentum, the company is setting its sights on the UK, France, Italy and Spain. “We are experiencing tremendous growth both domestically and internationally, with …