Chipotle is bringing restaurants to Mexico for the first time

Takeaways

• Chipotle announced on Monday that it has signed a deal with restaurant operator Alsea for the opening of a Mexican location by early next year.
• The company has offices in Canada, the UK France, Germany, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
• Chipotle is expected report its earnings Wednesday.

Chipotle (CMG), a fast-food chain in the United States, is bringing bowls and Burritos into Mexico. 

The Mexican food chain announced on Monday that it has partnered with Alsea, an operator of restaurants in Latin America and Europe to open a Mexican location by the beginning of 2026. The chain has also announced that it will be exploring new markets for expansion in the region.

"We are confident that our responsibly sourced, classically-cooked real food will resonate with guests in Mexico," said Nate Lawton, chief business development officer at Chipotle. "The country's familiarity with our ingredients and affinity for fresh food make it an attractive growth market for our company."

Chipotle signed its first international agreement in July 2023 with Alshaya Group for the opening of restaurants in the Middle East. They operate together three restaurants in Kuwait, and two in United Arab Emirates. Chipotle owns and operates 58 restaurants in Canada, 20 in the United Kingdom, six in France and two in Germany.

Most of Chipotle's revenue comes from its US operations; it had more than 3,600 domestic restaurants as of the end of the year.

Chipotle is expected report its earnings in the afternoon on Wednesday. In February it reported a lower-than-expected growth rate for same-store sales during the fourth quarter. The shares have fallen by more than 20 percent this year.