California-based Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced plans to open new restaurants in locations you might have thought of.
On Monday, April 21, the chain announced plans to open new restaurants in Mexico as part of its partnership with Alsea, a restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe. According to the announcement, the first Chipotle restaurant is expected to open in Mexico in early 2026. In addition, the company is exploring expansion in other markets in the region.
“We believe our responsibly sourced, real ingredients cooked in classic ways will resonate with Mexican diners,” said Nate Lawton, Chipotle’s chief business development officer, in a statement. “Mexicans are familiar with our ingredients and love fresh ingredients, making it an attractive growth market for our company.”
This is just the latest step in Chipotle’s global expansion plans, with the fast-food chain signing its first international development agreement with Alshaya Group in 2023 to open restaurants in the Middle East.
The company currently operates three restaurants in Kuwait and two in the UAE, the company noted in the statement. The chain also highlighted that it has “58 stores in Canada, 20 in the UK, six in France and two in Germany,” making the extra-guacamole goodness available to customers around the world. Additionally, the company said it has a “long-term goal of opening 7,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada” to further expand its presence in North America.
“We are honored to partner with an iconic brand like Chipotle and help it grow its international business in the coming years,” said Alsea CEO Armando Torrado of the new partnership with Mexico. “Through this development agreement, we will continue to leverage our deep knowledge of Mexican consumers and expertise in the restaurant industry to bring our customers the best food experiences and brands from around the world.”
As for Chipotle’s other growth plans, the company announced in March that it would be launching Chipotle Honey Chicken in stores across North America and Europe for a limited time.
As the brand shared with Food & Wine at the time, the limited menu item “perfectly balances the distinctive spicy flavor of jalapenos with the light sweetness of pure wildflower honey.” So try it now while you still can – you don’t even have to get on a plane to do so.
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