Odd Burger Expanding To Nearly 50 Locations

Odd Burger (previously known as Globally Local), a vegan fast-food company in Canada, plans to establish 36 new sites in Alberta and British Columbia by 2029. This will raise the chain’s total number of sites in Canada and the United States to over 50. With these strategies in place, the company is on track to become the world’s largest vegan fast-food chain.

Odd Burger has a large menu with vegan versions of popular fast-food items, including breakfast sandwiches like the Faconator (made with a sausage patty, vegan cheddar cheese, and a tofu-based egg); burgers like the Vopper (made with a chickpea-based patty topped with tempeh bacon); “chikUN” sandwiches in Buffalo, crispy, and sticky (slathered in Korean sesame sauce) varieties; salads, onion rings, and

Odd Burger has collaborated with family-owned hospitality business Sai-Ganesh Enterprises (SGE) to supervise franchise sales to individual owners, shop development, and support for franchisees in its region for the new sites in Western Canada. SGE wants to open a corporate restaurant in the region that will be used to teach new franchisees, in addition to assisting franchise expansion.

“Western Canada is a great place for Odd Burger to expand, and a partnership with an experienced territory developer gives us a kickstart to our growth plans, plus it gives those franchisees strong support… In the future I can see us signing other area developers not only in Canada, but also across the United States and even internationally,” stated Odd Burger co-founder and CEO James McInnes.

The World’s First 24-Hour Vegan Drive-Thru

When it took over a closed store of famed Canadian fast-food chain Harvey’s in 2017, Odd Burger became the world’s first vegan fast-food company to provide a 24-hour drive through. Last year, the restaurant made history by becoming the first publicly listed vegan fast-food chain in the world when it began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange’s (TSE) Venture Exchange. It is presently trading on the TSE under the ticker code ODD, on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol ODDAF, and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IA9.

The company now has locations in six cities throughout Ontario (Toronto, London, Windsor, Vaughan, Waterloo, and Hamilton), with Whitby, Brampton, and a second Toronto branch set to launch this summer. New sites are now being developed in Calgary, Alberta, Ottawa, Ontario, and Victoria, British Columbia. Odd Burger also has a production facility in London, Ontario, where it makes burgers, chickUn filets, sausages, and dairy-free sauces using its unique plant-based proteins and dairy substitutes.

Odd Burger announced the launch of its new Preposterous Foods brand last month, which includes a crispy “chickUN” burger, meatless wings, beefy ground meat, gyro meat, breakfast sausage, dairy-free ranch dressing, “honey” mustard sauce, tzatziki sauce, eggless mayo, and dairy-free cheese sauce for the foodservice sector. Sysco, a food services company, is the sole distributor of the line of plant-based proteins and sauces.

“It may seem preposterous, but indulgent food can be healthy, and healthy food can be indulgent… Thanks to new innovations and upgrades in our manufacturing facility, we’re now able to produce plant-based proteins and other treats at scale for broader distribution, and bring utterly Preposterous Foods to a bigger market,” McInnes said in a statement. 

The chain also intends to build its first US presence in New York City, where it is now looking for suitable premises.  “It’s a very competitive real estate market there… The good news is we’ll offer franchise opportunities across the United States soon, in various parts of the country. Working with franchisees that have expertise and relationships in their local markets also helps us expand strategically, and gives us the local knowledge to find the right spots,” said McInnes.

Transforming Fast Food

Odd Burger is changing the fast-food market not just because of its healthier vegan ingredients, but also because all of its locations are small smart kitchens that employ cutting-edge cooking technology and automation solutions that are especially beneficial in this COVID-19 age. The company’s technology is designed for quick service, takeout, and delivery, as well as cost-effectiveness and employee training. Online ordering, self-checkout kiosks, and cashless transactions are all available in its smart kitchens.

“SGE is always looking for truly new and unique opportunities in fast food, and Odd Burger is among the most exciting and modern concepts we have ever encountered… As lifelong vegetarians, we have a passion for healthy eating and environmental stewardship, and Odd Burger also adds innovative technology that enhances efficiency, profitability, and customer experience,” said Utsang Desai, president of SGE.

Source: “WORLD’S FIRST PUBLICLY TRADED VEGAN FAST-FOOD CHAIN IS EXPANDING TO NEARLY 50 LOCATIONS” by VegNews

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