Wingstop, Inc., the award-winning wing concept with more than 900 locations worldwide, announced that it has entered into an international expansion agreement with Colowing S.A. de C.V. to open 30 locally operated franchise locations in Colombia and Panama over the next five years, starting in 2017. Antonio Ortiz Dominguez, majority partner of Wingstop's Mexico franchise and the Company's first international operator, will serve as majority partner of this newly created entity; Ricardo Ibarra, former general manager of Alsea Colombia, will serve as managing partner.
Ortiz is a long time multi-unit operator for quick-serve and fast casual restaurant brands in Mexico, having launched Wingstop's first international location there in 2009, as well as operating Dominos and Burger-Fi franchises. Under his leadership, Mexico remains Wingstop's largest international franchise to date with 39 total restaurants including 15 newly opened locations in the past 18 months alone. Ibarra has more than 25 years of restaurant operating and logistics experience, the majority of this time spent with Alsea, the major multi-unit operator of American brands across Latin America. He has served as general manager of Alsea's Colombia business where he oversaw the launches and expansion of the company's Dominos and Burger King brands, and most recently served as managing director of the company's Chili's operations in Mexico.
Ortiz Dominguez and Ibarra will work with local restaurant operators in each respective market to accelerate opening and expansion, with the first locations planned for Bogota and Cali, Colombia.
"We look forward to partnering with Colowing in the development of these 30 new Wingstop locations and our first entry into South and Central America," says Larry Kruguer, president of international at Wingstop. "The five-year plan for those two markets will focus on rapid development and scalability, and will lay the foundation for additional locations, while kick starting our growth throughout the Latin American region and further fulfilling Wingstop's mission to ‘Serve the World Flavor.'"
