Jimmy John’s is going to Canada. And to Latin America.
The Atlanta-based sandwich chain on Wednesday said it signed a pair of development agreements that will take the brand beyond its borders for the first time.
The 2,600-unit chain, one of the largest sandwich chains in the U.S., signed an agreement with the operator Foodtastic to develop the brand in Canada.
The company also reached a deal with an El Salvador-based operator, Franquicias Internacionales, to develop the brand in Latin America. Franquicias is the operator of several businesses across food and beverage, digital media and logistics.
“For 40 years, Jimmy John’s has taken a straightforward approach to making ridiculously good, quality sandwiches and it’s now time to share them with the world,” Michael Haley, president and managing director of international for Jimmy John’s parent company Inspire Brands, said in a statement.
He said that simplicity is key in international development, which should help Jimmy John’s thrive outside U.S. borders.
U.S. brands have been intent on growing in international markets and a number of well-developed concepts have started making their own global pushes of late. Jimmy John’s rival Jersey Mike’s signed its own deal to develop internationally on Wednesday, with an agreement that will take that brand into Canada.
International markets are believed to be ripe for more development—there are more people who live outside the U.S., where the restaurant industry is mostly saturated.
Inspire Brands has been more focused on international development in recent years. Its brands, notably Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, operate more than 9,900 international units.
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