Franchising
Qdoba lands 'largest deal in brand history'
February 24, 2022
Qdoba Mexican Eats has signed a multi-unit franchise development agreement to bring 30 locations to North Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties in Florida over the next 10 years, according to a company press release.
At the helm of the deal, which is the largest in brand history, is Michael Guiffre, who has over two decades of leadership experience within the construction industry overseeing organization structure, customer relations and development. His first venture into restaurant operations was with Dunkin,' where he was the operating partner for 10 locations and recognized for the network's performance, which earned $13 million annually.
"After my experience with Dunkin', I have been searching for the best opportunity to rejoin the restaurant industry," Guiffre said in the release. "Qdoba was the perfect option for me. With a variety of restaurant formats and selection sites, opening my locations is going to be a smooth process. I am ready to hit the ground running and continue to grow Qdoba's presence across Southern Florida."
The deal is part of Qdoba's plan of expanding to 2,000 units through a mix of existing franchisees adding more units, signing franchise agreements and continuing corporate development. Following 60 franchise commitments in 2021, the brand is working with several franchisee groups interested in developing into major markets for 2022.
"This deal is a tremendous step for Qdoba, and it further situates us as the key player in the Mexican fast casual segment," CDO Jim Sullivan said in the release. "Franchising with Qdoba gives operators the ability to grow with a nationally recognized brand that offers a great return on investment and tremendous corporate support. This is an opportunity that is second to none, and operators like Michael recognize that."
Qdoba, which has nearly 750 locations, is seeking qualified multi-unit and multi-segment groups with experience in development strategy.
