Dive Brief:
- BurritoBar USA has surpassed 1,500 contractually committed franchise units for Barrio Burrito Bar with its latest signings of master franchise agreements, the company said in an emailed press release.
- The commitments call for 107 units in North Carolina, 135 units in Pennsylvania, 77 units in Western New York and 51 units in Alabama, resulting in 370 new signings.
- The concept, an affiliate of BarBurrito in Canada that has 375 locations, entered the U.S. in 2020 as BurritoBar, rebranding as Barrio Burrito Bar in 2024. It currently has seven units open in the U.S.
Dive Insight:
The Tex-Mex concept has been rapidly signing new unit commitments, doubling its future unit count in less than a year. As of last July, it had 750 development commitments in the U.S.
The chain typically uses a smaller storefront of 1,000 to 1,500 square feet that can fit in inline or endcap spaces to reduce the total investment for franchisees, Jeff Young, chief development officer at BurritoBar USA, previously told Restaurant Dive. The chain focuses on secondary and tertiary markets before expanding into denser, more urban settings, he said. The total investment for a Barrio Burrito Bar restaurant ranges from $418,620 to $753,000, according to the chain’s franchise disclosure document.
The chain has so far focused on expansion along the East Coast and Midwest, with master franchise agreements signed for 19 regions, in addition to the recently signed commitments, according to the press release. The chain also signed agreements outside of North America, with 35 units committed to the United Arab Emirates and 54 units in India’s state of Punjab.
The brand offers daily-prepared meats and homemade salsas. It serves unique menu offerings like Bang-Bang Shrimp, Crunchy Chicken, and Extreme Fries that are a departure from typical fast casual Mexican fare of bowls, burritos and tacos.
Barrio Burrito Bar isn’t the only fast casual restaurant planning for rapid growth. Qdoba, Moe’s District Taco and Cilantro Taco Grill are all targeting aggressive expansion with strong franchise store commitments. Qdoba, for example, is working toward opening 100 units annually. Chicago-based Cilantro Taco Grill opened its first franchised restaurant earlier this year and has commitments for 110 units.
