QDOBA Mexican Eats has hired franchising industry veteran Peter Ortiz as Vice President of Franchise Development. In his new role, Ortiz will be directing the 730-unit brand’s strategic franchise expansion across key markets in the United States and Canada. Since joining the brand in mid-August, Ortiz has already begun working with experienced franchisee groups interested in franchising with QDOBA in key markets.
Ortiz joins QDOBA at an exciting time. In recent years, QDOBA set the stage for continued growth by hiring over 100 corporate employees at its new San Diego headquarters, establishing a more distinctive brand identity and expanding its menu innovation. Additionally, QDOBA has met the evolving needs of its customers, having recently launched a series of formats including restaurants equipped with drive-thrus, pick-up windows and dedicated curbside pick-up areas.
“Peter has a well-earned reputation in the franchise industry as an accomplished executive who truly understands every facet of multi-unit franchise development. His experience in the restaurant space is unmatched,” says Tim Welsh, Chief Development Officer at QDOBA. “As we launch an aggressive growth strategy, Peter is going to play a critical role in bringing our concept to new regions and expanding our footprint in existing territories through franchising.”
Ortiz brings more than 30 years of relevant executive-level experience to QDOBA, having previously led franchise development efforts for brands including Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Carvel Ice Cream and Schlotzsky’s. Over the course of his career, Ortiz’s efforts have netted sales of nearly 2,000 franchises throughout the United States and internationally. In his most recent role at Potbelly, he led the brand’s franchise growth strategy and nearly doubled the brand’s franchise footprint through multi-unit deals.
“QDOBA has an incredible opportunity for growth. QDOBA is truly a national leader in the fast-casual segment and has many attractive markets available,” adds Ortiz. “The momentum behind the brand is stronger than ever, and I’m excited to join the team and take QDOBA into new regions across the country through multi-unit franchise development.”
As QDOBA continues to expand throughout the United States, it is actively seeking qualified multi-unit and multi-segment groups with experience in development strategy and focused on diversifying with a bold concept.
