Chipotle announces accelerated Canadian expansion plans

Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced some big expansion plans for the Canadian market. The American chain of fast-casual restaurants will be opening eight new locations over the next year, including Canada’s first “Chipotlane” concept.

The first location will be opening in Surrey, BC, next week. This will be the brand’s first Canadian restaurant to open since October 2018.

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Chipotle will open six additional restaurants in BC and Ontario over the next 12 months. It currently operates 23 locations across the country.

“Canada has cleared our stage-gate process, and we are ready to accelerate new restaurant openings,” said Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung.

“We will be experimenting with different location formats and restaurant designs throughout the country to gauge consumer preferences in the various markets.”

 

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Canada’s first-ever Chipotlane will open at a new restaurant in BC this summer as well.

Chipotlane is the brand’s drive-thru digital order pickup lane. It’s meant to offer customers quick and easy access to takeout grub in less than a minute.