Qdoba bolsters expansion plans with 50-unit franchise deal
Qdoba Mexican Eats is gearing up for major growth across several Western states.
The fast-casual Mexican chain has announced that Barry Dubin of B Wild Investments, LLC has signed on to develop 50 new Qdoba restaurants across Alaska, Utah, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. Initially, expansion plans will focus on locations in Salt Lake City, St. George, Albuquerque, Las Vegas and areas surrounding Colorado Springs.
The deal marks one of the largest development deals in Qdoba’s history. Currently, the chain has more than 600 future restaurants in its development pipeline with nearly 20 new franchisees signed in the past 12 months. Recent signings include deals for locations in Pittsburgh, Pa., Dallas-Fort Worth/Waco, Texas, and several Ohio markets.
"As we look to fiscal year 2026, Qdoba continues to build impressive momentum," said chief development officer Jeremy Vitaro, who joined Qdoba last year from Little Caesars Pizza. "As one of the fastest growing brands in the industry, it's no surprise we continue to attract some of the best franchise partners from QSR and casual dining. With strong operators like Barry joining our system and a powerful brand in the most attractive category in the restaurant industry, Qdoba is well-positioned for sustained growth and long-term franchise success as we aim to double our footprint by 2032."
Dubin brings a track record of scaling consumer brands to Qdoba, including as co-founder of KBP Brands, which has grown to over 1,000 restaurant units, and executive chairman of the largest Tide Laundromat franchisee in the U.S.
[READ MORE: Qdoba exceeds 500 stores in development; to grow in Northeast, Midwest]
"This agreement marks a proud milestone for me and for Qdoba," said Dubin. "I believe deeply in the brand's strength, its experienced leadership team, and its position in one of the most attractive categories in the restaurant industry. Core to our investment thesis at B Wild, we are excited to be acquiring a scaled platform of high-quality assets while signing an agreement to perpetuate the growth of Qdoba in very attractive territories.”
Looking ahead, Qdoba says it is actively pursuing growth throughout Florida, as well as in Texas, California, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee. In August, Butterfly, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm specializing in the food and beverage sector, announced the closing of a $527 million single-asset continuation fund to extend its partnership and accelerate the growth trajectory of Qdoba. Butterfly acquired the chain in 2022.
Headquartered in San Diego, Qdoba operates over 800 locations in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan and South Korea.
