The Chipotle Mexican Grill brings popular burritos south of the border.
The Newport Beach, California-based highway chain announced on Monday that it will expand to Mexico in a partnership with Alcy, a leading restaurant operator in Latin America and Europe.
The first Mexican Chipotle is scheduled to open in early 2026. However, certain locations have not been released.
“We are confident that responsibly sourced, classically cooked, authentic food will resonate with our Mexican guests,” said Nate Lawton, the company’s chief business development officer. “The affinity for countries that are familiar with our ingredients and fresh foods will make it an attractive growth market for us.”
Chipotle tries to succeed if other US-based Mexican food chains fail. Taco Bell became famous for first attempting to expand into Mexico again in the 1990s and in the mid-2000s.
Executives hope that Chipotle’s appeal in Mexico will not only be successful, but will lead to a wider expansion in the region.
“We are proud to work with iconic brands like Chipotle and help grow our international business for years to come,” said Armando Trado, CEO of Alcea.
Chipotle was founded in Colorado in 1993 and moved its headquarters to California in 2018. At the end of 2024 there were over 3,700 restaurants in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
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