In Costa Rica, fast food restaurant chains plan to open at least 14 new sales points in different areas of the country next year.
Some of the companies planning to expand their restaurant chain in 2019 include: Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway, KFC and QSR International, and their key commitment to further expansion will be to move into smaller locations.
Thirteen fast food franchises will be opening 40 new stores this year, after 2015 saw the arrival of some new players and the departure of others.
A survey carried out by Nacion.com on the franchising industry revealed that about 40 new stores will generate 360 jobs this year, compared to the 654 redundancies recorded in fast food restaurants segment in 2015.
The fast food franchise KFC Costa Rica has been acquired by the Mexican Group Inversor Intelectiva, which plans to open five new restaurants between 2015 and 2016.
One of the major changes made by the new owner is to implement, in all branches operating in the country, the model used worldwide by KFC, called In Store Prepared (ISP).
Fast food chains have announced investments of $13 million in the opening of nine chicken restaurants and improvements in other infrastructure.
In order to meet the growing the demand for chicken meals, the chains KFC, Rostipollos, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and As will make investments in 2013 which together total $12.7 million.
According to Juan Carlos Rodriguez, manager of the KFC brand (represented by the firm QRS International), the chain has 30 stores in the country and opened its first restaurant in Limon. In addition it will have branches in Tibás, Desamparados and Juan Santamaria International Airport, for which it is designating $8 million.
While Chili's and Buffalo Wild Wings open their first branches in Costa Rica, the established Applebee's, Subway, Quizno's, McDonald's, KFC and Teriyaki have increased their investments.
Before the end of the year, Hooters will open its fourth restaurant on Paseo Metropolis, in Cartago, east of San José, with an investment of $1 million.
By 2014 the franchise hopes to double the number of stores nationwide.
The franchise company QSR International is to open 15 new stores during 2012, and invest in the remodeling and reopening of three others.
QSR International, which owns the fast-food franchise KFC and Quizno's Sub in the region, will open 8 new KFC restaurants and 7 new Quizno's outlets in Costa Rica.
"Calle Blancos (Plaza San Gabriel), Cartago (near the Ruins and in the new Paseo Metrópoli mall), in Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJIA), Limon, San Rafael de Desamparados, Moravia (Lincoln Plaza) and Alajuela are the new KFC locations," reported Elfinancierocr.com.
The opening and remodeling of restaurants, the closing of others and the entry into the market of new competitors is shaking up the market.
QSR International, which operates Quizno's in the country, has added fast-food chain Smashburger to its portfolio with three locations opening in 2012.
Meanwhile Subway, which has already opened three new outlets this year, plans to open three more by December.
QSR International is betting on the franchise model to expand Quiznos and Teriyaki restaurants in Central America.
The master franchisor for both brands in Central America and the Caribbean, QSR International, announced its plans to expand through the region by franchising its restaurants.
Pablo Fernández, QSR franchise expansion manager, explained that "the company, who also operates KFC in Costa Rica, opted for this model to grow faster", according to Elfinancierocr.com. "If they attempted to expand on their own capital, they would be limiting their potential operation, argued Fernández".
"QSR Internacional", Costa Rican operator of the KFC, Quiznos and Teriyaki franchises, opened three new restaurants in the country.
Kentucky Fried Chicken opened its 24th store in the country, located in the shopping center "Milla Platino", in Lindora, Santa Ana. Gloriana Castro, Marketing Supervisor for the three franchises, reported that $3.5 million were invested in this opening, which adds to what was already invested in the Quiznos and Teriyaki restaurants.