The first Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Canadian province of Alberta opened this week, part of the company’s previously announced plan to open up to 20 restaurants in the province by 2030. Alberta native Karleen Rhodes is the owner and operator of the new restaurant, which is located in the West Edmonton Mall food court. It is open for dine-in and pick-up Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“We are thrilled with the response from Albertans who are looking forward to Chick-fil-A,” Rhodes said in a statement. “It is my great honour to bring Chick-fil-A’s delicious food and unique hospitality to Edmonton, and I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy their first bites.”
The new location will employ approximately 100 part-time and full-time workers. In addition, Rhodes’ restaurant will participate in Chick-fil-A’s Shared Table program, which directs excess food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, food banks and nonprofit organizations.
As part of its larger goal, Chick-fil-A plans to open three new restaurants in Alberta this year. They will open in Calgary and Edmonton and will be the first outside of Ontario since the chain debuted in Canada in 2019.
“Alberta has an incredible growth story and is an exciting place for us to continue our expansion in Canada. We can’t wait to offer new guests in the province an authentic Chick-fil-A experience,” said Vice President of International Paul Trotti in a statement earlier this year.
This Alberta debut is part of the company’s long-term investment in the country. In 2022, the company announced plans to open seven to 10 restaurants per year in the market, including additional locations in Ontario. There are currently 13 existing locations across Ontario. These new openings also fit with Chick-fil-A’s broader international development plans. Last year, the company announced a $1 billion initiative to expand its presence to five international markets by 2030. The company said it plans to open restaurants in Europe and Asia by 2026.
Canada has recently become a growth destination for several American chains, including Jimmy John’s, Jersey Mike’s, Taco Bell, Burger King and Chipotle. According to a recent report from Circana, the market saw an 11% increase in visits and an 18% increase in revenue last year, with QSRs generating about 67% of all foodservice visits.
Contact Alicia Kelso at (email protected)
