BurgerFi has struck its first international development agreement, for 40 restaurants in the Mexico City area, the fast-casual operator said Tuesday.
North Palm Beach, Fla.-based BurgerFi International LLC said its deal with EFIT SA DE CV calls for the first restaurant in the area to open in the fall.
EFIT SA DE CV has three partners: Luis Antonio Ortiz Dominguez, Alan Jaber and Abraham Cohen. They also franchise the U.S.-based Wingstop and Domino’s Pizza brands in Mexico.
BurgerFi CEO Corey Winograd said in a statement that the Mexico franchise team “has the genuine passion, industry experience and deep infrastructure to be our first partner to expand BurgerFi’s presence internationally.”
“We are honored to be selected by BurgerFi as their first international partner,” said Dominguez, founding partner of EFIT SA DE CV. “We look forward to bringing the fresh, all-natural, hormone-free concept to Mexico and replicating the success of the brand internationally.”
BurgerFi was cited last year in Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Next 20” for its growth potential. In that report, which was calculated based on unit counts for year-end 2013, the number of new BurgerFi restaurants had grown 175 percent, to 33 locations. The chain now has 68 restaurants.
In 2013, the company tripled its systemwide sales, to an estimated $42.8 million, according to NRN research. Estimated sales per unit showed growth of 25.6 percent, to $1.9 million.
BurgerFi was designed to appeal to an eco-friendly customer. Restaurants feature furniture made from recycled materials, such as chairs made from soda bottles; ceiling fans to reduce air conditioning use; a low carbon footprint; and waste recycling.
“Customers everywhere are holding restaurants to higher quality standards,” Winograd said. “They want clean, natural food. They want to dine in a restaurant that reflects their own values, such as sustainability, low energy costs and recycling programs. This is where the future of the burger business is headed, both in America and abroad.”
BurgerFi, which opened its first restaurant in 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said it will continue to identify international partners to expand the brand.
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