15/05/2014 | 02:25 PM

Quesada doubles up

TORONTO—Following the opening of two new franchise, Quesada announced plans to double growth within a year.

The four-year-old company recently launched Ontario locations in Mississauga and Brockville with another 10 locations currently under construction nationally.

By July, the burrito company will have 35 national locations and plans to continue doubling its franchise numbers annually.

“The two big limitations are finding quality franchisees and finding quality real estate,” Quesada president Tom O’Neill told ORN.

Currently, Quesada has eight area developers who are contracted to open 240 locations. O’Neill said within the year the company will have a developer for the Atlantic provinces which would position the company from coast to coast. The company is also looking for an area developer in Manitoba.

Each location is roughly 1,200 square feet with 20 to 30 seats, however O’Neill points out the footprint is dependent on cost.

“We don’t want our franchisee’s choking on rent,” he said.

The franchise fee is $20,000 with a six per cent royalty fee and a three per cent advertising fee.

While the company is not yet large enough to consider national advertising, O’Neill said Quesada has hired on Field Day Inc. as the company’s official advertising agency and will focus on regional marketing.

According to O’Neill, Field Day Inc., produced a study on how consumers perceived the brand.

“The perception of our brand is that it’s very affordable and that our product quality is very high,” O’Neill said, pointing to several products prepared in-house including the company’s salsa and seasoning meats.

Quesada also has plans to move into the U.S. in 2015 and O’Neill said it will target locations along the East Coast through New Jersey and Pennsylvania.