San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats, the largest franchise opportunity in the fast-casual Mexican segment, has hired franchising industry veteran Peter Ortiz as vice president of franchise development. In his new role, Ortiz will be directing the 730-unit brand’s strategic franchise expansion across key markets in the U.S. and Canada. He joined the brand in mid-August from Potbelly.
In recent years, QDOBA set the stage for continued growth by hiring over 100 corporate employees at its new San Diego headquarters, establishing a more distinctive brand identity and expanding its menu innovation. Additionally, QDOBA has met the evolving needs of its customers, having recently launched a series of formats including restaurants equipped with drive-thrus, pickup windows and dedicated curbside pickup areas.
“Peter has a well-earned reputation in the franchise industry as an accomplished executive who truly understands every facet of multi-unit franchise development. His experience in the restaurant space is unmatched,” says Tim Welsh, chief development officer at QDOBA. “As we launch an aggressive growth strategy, Peter is going to play a critical role in bringing our concept to new regions and expanding our footprint in existing territories through franchising.”
Ortiz brings more than 30 years of relevant executive-level experience to QDOBA, having previously led franchise development efforts for brands including Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Carvel Ice Cream and Schlotzsky’s. In his most recent role at Potbelly, he led the brand’s franchise growth strategy and nearly doubled the brand’s franchise footprint through multi-unit deals.
QDOBA is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant with more than 730 locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.qdobafranchise.com.
SOURCE: QDOBA Mexican Eats