In 2006 Alex Shtein opened the first BURRITObar Fresh Mexican Grill in Toronto, Ontario. In 2009 Alex started their franchise program. Since then, BURRITObar has expended to 130 franchises across the country, with over 50 new stores in various stages of development. BURRITObar is projected to be a 300-store chain within the next 3 years.

In 2019, they entered into their first Master Franchise agreement in the U.S. in the state of Michigan. They have since opened their first location (August 2020) and have 2 additional locations in development. They are operating under the name “BURRITObar Fresh Mexican Grill” in the U.S.

With average store sales at $600,000 – $650,000/year and a build out cost under $350,000 their economic model works well. 35% of their existing franchisees are multi-unit owners. Their Royalty is 6% and Ad Fund is 2% on sales over the counter. Their Royalty is 5% on delivered sales (via third party delivery platforms) and they have their own order-ahead app for in-store pickup or delivery.

This is a simple and easy to execute business. No special chefs or skills required. The majority of their employees are at minimum wage. Hours of operation are 11 AM – 9 PM 7 days a week. Their food is cooked fresh on premises daily. They offer more proteins and healthier options than any of their competitors. Their food is delicious, they have some of the highest YELP reviews in their category and they offer an excellent value proposition to their customers.

Ideal Candidate
Their ideal candidate is someone with entrepreneurial spirit. Who is committed to a great customer experience. That is interested in running a successful business opportunity. A person who is interested in following a proven track record of success. That individual will be an extrovert, with a passion for food and service. They are looking for candidates with good business acumen and preferably experience in managing other people. Prior restaurant experience is not required.

Ideally they are looking for a minimum 3 store developer. They can open a location for every 30,000 population. People that want to take over regions and develop them are ideal for their chain. Their existing franchisees are constantly reinvesting and buying more locations. They are an ideal model for multi-unit ownership.