EXPANSION

Chipotle Announces Its Debut at Latest International Location

The American-Mexican fast food joint’s expansion announcement comes despite Donald Trump’s tariff war.

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced its first location in Mexico will open early next year as part of the company’s latest international expansion, NBC News reported. On Monday, the company announced it had entered into a development agreement with Alsea, the operator of Starbucks, Domino’s Pizza, Burger King, and other major chains across Latin America and Europe. The first restaurant under this partnership, which is set to open in 2026, marks the start of Chipotle’s search for additional expansion opportunities in the region—potentially signaling a broader push into Latin America. This move into Mexico comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and Mexico. At one point, Mexican avocados faced a proposed 25 percent tariff, which was later suspended for goods complying with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). While Chipotle has diversified its avocado supply sources, about half still come from Mexico. The American-Mexican fast food joint has been gradually expanding its operations to international waters after a decade of focusing on the U.S. market. The company currently operates 58 restaurants in Canada, 20 in the U.K., six in France, and two in Germany.