Tijuana Flats Relaunches Franchising Program Under Latitude Food Group
Tijuana Flats is relaunching its franchising program under new ownership by Latitude Food Group, formed after &pizza acquired the brand in late 2025. The chain aims to shift from a primarily company-operated model to one where approximately 80% of locations will be franchised within two years. This follows a challenging period that included bankruptcy and restaurant closures. Latitude plans to sell about 20 corporate-owned restaurants this year, representing roughly 20% of the current portfolio, while also securing new development commitments for an additional 20–40 units through both refranchising and new builds. The initial focus is on Florida and the Southeast, where Tijuana Flats has strong brand recognition. The shared-services model between &pizza and Tijuana Flats aims to reduce costs by consolidating purchasing, marketing, technology, training, HR, creative production, and vendor relationships. This strategy supports franchisees with better unit economics through economies of scale.
Topics: &pizza franchise expansion Latitude Food Group Tijuana Flats