Yonge and Dundas Welcomes First Shake Shack Canada This Summer
The rumours are true! Shake Shack will be opening its first Canadian location in downtown Toronto.
The famous American burger restaurant confirmed its flagship location will be a 5,500-square-foot restaurant at Yonge and Dundas, one of the country’s busiest intersections. Shake Shack Canada will open its doors at The Tenor, along with The Ballroom Bowl and Hard Rock Café.
When is Shake Shack Canada opening?
The flagship Toronto location is one of 35 other Canadian Shake Shacks planned to open by 2035. While there is no confirmed opening date for the Toronto location, we can expect their doors to open sometime this summer. Back in 2017, Shake Shack drew in crowds with a one-day only pop-up location.
About Shake Shack & QSR industry
Shake Shack was founded in 2004 by Danny Meyer. Its first location was a hot dog stand in Madison Square Park in New York City. After gaining a cult following, the park’s hotdog cart was made permanent. Since then, Shake Shack has quickly expanded to over 520 locations, with over 175 locations in countries like South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.
Shake Shack Canada is a partnership between Toronto private investment companies Osmington Inc. and Harlo Entertainment Inc. Osmington is a commercial real-estate investment fund driven by David Thomson, chairman of Thomson Reuters. Osmington also owns the recently renovated retail concourse in Toronto’s Union Station.
The iconic burger joint’s Canadian debut has been a long time coming amid the many other US fast food expansions happening in the country over the last decade. With fast food visits up 9% in 2022 there’s more than enough room for newcomers in Canada’s Quick service restaurant (QSR) scene.
Statista’s latest report reveals a significant milestone for the Canadian fast-food industry, with a record-breaking market size of $33.6 billion USD in 2022. This marks a remarkable 22% surge compared to the previous year, setting the stage for a promising future. Projections indicate that the market will continue to expand, reaching US $38 billion with a CAGR of 4.67% between 2022 and 2030.
Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of renowned brands such as Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes, and Firehouse Subs, has recently made a strategic move. It announced its acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group, a step that aligns with RBI’s vision of a digital transformation to enhance the guest experience. This QSR giant has unveiled a comprehensive 5-year growth plan, aiming to open a minimum of 40,000 new restaurants by 2028. The plan also targets $60B USD in system-wide sales and $3.2B USD in Adjusted Operating Income, showcasing RBI’s ambitious goals and commitment to innovation.
Like RBI, many other players in the QSR scene are moving their businesses to 100% digital. McDonald’s is just one that has spoken out about exceeding 40% in its digital sales mix. For most QSRs, this starts with the drive-thru experience. A study by PYMNTS in collaboration with American Express reveals that 70% of customers desire tech, such as personalized menus integrated with the drive-thru.
Though each QSR brand will take a different approach, it’s Canada’s QSR industry is clearly undergoing a major digital transformation.
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