Jimmy John’s debuted its first Canadian location on Tuesday, in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke, Ontario. It is operated by Montreal-based franchise company Foodtastic, headed by president and chief executive officer Peter Mammas.
“We recognize exceptional brands and products when we see — and taste — them,” Mammas said in a statement. “The bold flavors and diverse menu at Jimmy John’s are truly unmatched, and we’re confident they’ll keep our guests coming back for more — and bringing their friends.”
To celebrate the opening, the restaurant, located at 197 North Queen St., handed out free six-inch sandwiches and a 16-ounce beverage to its first 200 in-store guests.
The menu of 15 sandwiches is slightly smaller than the stateside one of around 17 and includes favorites such as the Meatball Parmesan and Chicken Bacon Ranch as well as the chain’s top seller, the Turkey Tom, which is simply turkey with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on a roll.
This is Jimmy John’s third restaurant outside the United States, having opened in El Salvador in September and South Korea in October.
Jimmy John’s is part of Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, which also includes Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, and Sonic Drive-In.
Inspire’s president and managing director for international operations, Michael Haley, said Jimmy John’s has great potential in Canada and praised the new franchisee.
“Canada is one of the largest sandwich markets in the world, and we couldn’t ask for a better franchisee than Foodtastic,” Haley said in a statement. “Canadian consumers are hungry for Jimmy John’s straightforward approach to making delicious sandwiches on their terms — a blend of quality ingredients and convenience that is second to none.”
Foodtastic operates more than 1,200 restaurants both in Canada and abroad with around $1 billion in annual sales. Jimmy John’s is the 27th brand in its portfolio, which also includes Pita Pit, Freshii, Copper Branch, and Souvlaki Bar, according to its website.
There are more than 2,600 Jimmy John’s locations in the United States.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
