— Interview with Tim Welsh, Chief Development Officer — QDOBA was already making key changes prior to the pandemic. With a variety of smaller floor plans and a revamped digital suite already in the works pre-COVID, QDOBA Mexican Eats was on the right track — little did it know — to have the best possible chance to weather a global pandemic. Today, the Mexican fast-casual franchise continues with plans to open 30 new restaurants before year end and to have 1,000 open restaurants within the next 5 years. With …
Tim Welsh
San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats®, the largest franchise opportunity in the fast-casual Mexican segment, has introduced new restaurant formats that set the stage for continued growth. QDOBA’s new concepts feature buildouts including mobile-order drive-thrus, walk-up windows, mobile-order pickup lockers, dedicated curbside pickup areas, ghost kitchens and concepts with updated outdoor seating. The new formats come on the heels of a major multi-unit franchise development strategy announced last month that is set to grow the brand to 2,000 units. “Today’s customer wants a frictionless, safe experience and we’re evolving to …
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 …