Jersey Mike's, the fast-growing sandwich chain that listed #2 IN 2024 Franchise 500has embarked on its first major international expansion, marking an important milestone in its history. The company, which started with one location at the Jersey Shore in 1956has steadily grown its footprint across the US and is now turning its attention to Canada, where it plans to open 300 new locations over the next several years.
“The opportunities are there,” Jersey Mike founder and CEO Peter Cancro said entrepreneur in January insisting of the company philosophy it will not change. “We will expand internationally, but we have to be with the right groups, the right people.”
Jersey Mike chose it Berry restaurantsa master franchisor that also owns Burger King and Taco Bell locations in Canada, to lead its expansion north of the border.
The decision to enter the Canadian market comes as Jersey Mike's continues to see strong growth domestically — the brand has opened 1,000 new stores in the past five years. Canadian expansion represents the next logical step for Jersey Mike's, which has become one dominant player in the US fast casual dining space.
In addition to international expansion, Cancro said entrepreneur the company plans to open an additional 1,000 stores in the US over the next three years, with an eventual goal of 10,000 locations overall. However, the CEO was adamant about keeping the company's expansion at 13% to 15% unit growth per year.
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“You don't want to open so many stores that you start closing them,” he said entrepreneur. To bolster this steady growth, the company built an infrastructure of area managers to work on the ground with franchisees from the time they open. “It's been many weeks since we opened 15 stores, and (now) it's not an issue or a problem.”
The expansion into Canada also reflects the growing demand for Jersey Mike's unique product offering. The brand has built a loyal customer base in the US by offering a higher quality alternative to traditional fast food. Jersey Mike's emphasis on community involvement, including annual The Month of Givinghas further made it one of the most popular subchains in the country.
Read more: QSR magazine
