The Mexican franchise in the United States, Chipotle Mexican Grill (Chipotle), will open in Seoul in the first half of next year. Chipotle is a popular brand among young generations, including American college students, known for selling burritos, tacos, and bowls primarily made with gluten-free ingredients.
According to the restaurant industry on the 8th, SPC Group plans to bring Chipotle to Korea through a licensing agreement or joint venture with the Chipotle headquarters. This will be the first store in Asia. Similar to the sandwich franchise Subway, this franchise allows customers to choose their toppings when ordering.
According to the restaurant industry, the contract was led by Big Byte Company, which operates Shake Shack and is managed by Vice President Heo Hee-soo, the owner's second son of SPC Group. An industry insider noted, 'I understand that they secured the contract for Chipotle based on their successful experience of bringing Shake Shack to Korea from the United States.'