Chick-fil-A, Inc. announced July 25 that it will open its first restaurants in Toronto in 2019. These will be the company’s first franchisee-owned restaurants outside of the United States.
“Toronto is a great city – with diverse and caring people, a vibrant restaurant culture and a deep talent pool,” said Tim Tassopoulos, president and chief operating officer, Chick-fil-A. “These characteristics align perfectly with Chick-fil-A’s focus on community giving, delivering a premium restaurant experience and working with passionate people who can grow with our company.”
Chick-fil-A’s restaurant owner/Operators are the secret sauce of the company’s model, which is a differentiator in the quick service restaurant industry. Operators are full-time, hands-on business leaders who typically own only one restaurant. They are empowered to shape their restaurants from the front line every day, and their responsibilities include restaurant management, staff mentorship and making choices about how best to serve the community. As a local small business owner, the Operator is incented to invest in talent through competitive pay and benefits along with training and leadership opportunities.
Chick-fil-A is currently recruiting Operators for its Greater Toronto Area (GTA) locations. Chick-fil-A offers a low economic barrier to entry for ownership ($15,000 compared to $100,000 - $300,000 for many Canadian franchises).
Chick-fil-A is focused on expansion in the GTA, with plans to open at least 15 restaurants in the next five years, creating 50 to 75 new jobs per location. The company has made a commitment to build long-standing partnerships with local suppliers and to find the perfect neighborhoods in which to grow.
