Initial plans call for development in the West.
By Andrew Carlo
QDOBA, the Mexican fast-casual brand, has announced one of the largest deals in its history.
The San Diego, California-based restaurant has signed a deal with Barry Dubin of B Wild Investments, LLC. Terms of the agreement call for the development of 50 new QDOBA locations in Alaska, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah.
According to QDOBA, initial plans will focus on openings in the Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and St. George markets.
B Wild Investments has also signed a purchase agreement to acquired on QDOBA’s largest franchisees with the deal closing in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“This agreement marks a proud milestone for me and for QDOBA,” Durbin said.. “I believe deeply in the brand’s strength, its experienced leadership team, and its position in one of the most attractive categories in the restaurant industry. Core to our investment thesis at B Wild, we are excited to be acquiring a scaled platform of high-quality assets while signing an agreement to perpetuate the growth of QDOBA in very attractive territories. We have significant trust and confidence in QDOBA’s ‘s leadership team, given our long-standing relationship with the current CEO of QDOBA, and look forward to expanding the brand’s presence in the Mountain West in close partnership with the brand.”
Durbin is the co-founder of KBP brands, which has over 1,000 restaurant locations including KFC, Taco Bell, Arby’s and Sonic units. He is also the chairman of the largest U.S.-based Tide Laundromat franchisee.
“I’ve known Barry for 15 years, since I was President of KFC, where he was my largest franchise partner,” said John Cywinski, CEO of QDOBA. “Barry is an exceptional leader, strategist, and operator, and I’m absolutely thrilled he is joining the QDOBA brand.”
The announcement comes amid a period of rapid growth for QDOBA with nearly 20 new franchisees signed in the past 12 months. Recent signings include Pittsburgh, PA, Dallas-Fort Worth/Waco, TX, and several Ohio DMAs – all of which are now sold-out priority markets.
QDOBA currently has more than 800 locations in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, and South Korea. With locations in 45 U.S. states, QDOBA said more than 600 new restaurants are in its development pipeline. This includes growth in Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas. In the past 12 months, QDOBA has signed nearly 20 new franchisees.
“As we look to fiscal year 2026, QDOBA continues to build impressive momentum,” said Jeremy Vitaro, chief development officer at QDOBA. “As one of the fastest growing brands in the industry, it’s no surprise we continue to attract some of the best franchise partners from QSR and casual dining. With strong operators like Barry joining our system and a powerful brand in the most attractive category in the restaurant industry, QDOBA is well-positioned for sustained growth and long-term franchise success as we aim to double our footprint by 2032.”
Franchise information about QDOBA is available at qdobafranchise.com.
