Mandy’s Gourmet Salads is ramping up its expansion efforts across Canada, with plans to open 30 to 40 locations nationwide over the next five years. The Montreal-based brand, known for its creative salad offerings and vibrant restaurant interiors, is targeting key urban markets, including Vancouver and Calgary, as it looks to extend its footprint beyond Quebec and Ontario.
Vanessa Fracheboud, President of Mandy’s Gourmet Salads, confirmed that the company, which currently operates 15 locations across Quebec and Ontario, is actively searching for its first location in Vancouver while also finalizing new restaurant openings in Toronto and Ottawa. “We are expanding, I think we’ve been very loud about it in the past few months,” said Fracheboud. “We wanted to close the loop on the GTA extension, at least for now, and then we will be moving towards Western Canada.”
New Openings in Toronto and Ottawa
Mandy’s is opening two new locations in Toronto’s Yonge and Eglinton and Canary District, further solidifying its presence in the city. According to Fracheboud, the Yonge and Eglinton location was a natural choice. “It’s an interesting mix between urban, busy, but also very neighborhood- and community-oriented, a little bit like Westmount in Montreal,” she explained. “We always want to stick close to urban centres where there’s lots of traffic, young families, and young entrepreneurs.”
The Canary District location, on the other hand, was selected for its distinct “Distillery vibe,” as well as its proximity to parks and trails. “It was a no-brainer,” she said. “The population is dense enough to have a Mandy’s without cannibalizing our other locations.”
In Ottawa, Mandy’s is setting up shop in The Glebe. “Canary District and Ottawa are the two that are creating the most noise at the moment,” Fracheboud noted. The Ottawa location is scheduled to open in June 2025, following the South Shore of Montreal location near Quartier DIX30 in April. Yonge and Eglinton is slated for July at 2670 Yonge Street, with Canary District expected to open in spring 2026.
Western Canada Expansion: Vancouver and Calgary in Focus
With Ontario and Quebec well underway, Mandy’s is now looking westward. “Right now, we have a lease under review in Vancouver. I have not signed it yet, but it’s under review. There’s a non-binding LOI,” Fracheboud revealed. “I want to saturate the market as fast as possible, but without diluting the brand.”
In Vancouver, the company is eyeing downtown, East Vancouver, Kitsilano, and North Vancouver, while in Calgary, the downtown area is the primary target. “For Calgary, we want to make sure that we come in first with a brick-and-mortar, not with a ghost kitchen. That’s not who we are,” she emphasized. “We are really guest experience-oriented, and to come into a new market, we need to ensure people get the full Mandy’s experience before introducing a ghost kitchen.”
Brandon Gorman of JLL is handling the expansion as broker.
Maintaining the Brand’s Essence Amid Growth
Despite the rapid expansion, Mandy’s remains committed to maintaining its signature aesthetic and guest experience. “You’ll always have a wall with photography, family pictures, and hand-painted plates from unique artists,” Fracheboud said. “Each location has a different inspiration, but the foundation remains the same.”
The brand is also highly selective about its real estate choices. “We have refused a few great locations because the building itself was not 100% aligned with who we are,” Fracheboud said. “The stretch goal is 40 locations, but we won’t compromise on our brand identity.”
Expanding Product Offerings and Automation
Beyond its restaurant expansion, Mandy’s is growing its product lines. The company’s salad dressings are already available in over 1,000 grocery stores across Canada, and a new grocery product is in the works. “We have one top-secret project that I will not disclose, but it’s a very fun one for groceries,” Fracheboud teased.
Mandy’s is also piloting automation to improve efficiency. “We are piloting a robot called Remy to help build salads faster,” she said. “It won’t prepare the entire salad, but it will do the foundation so our employees can focus on guest experience. Everyone is super excited about this initiative.”
A Strong Canadian Identity
With recent economic and trade uncertainties, Mandy’s is working to ensure its supply chain remains strong by diversifying suppliers, investing in local farming partnerships, and optimizing logistics to minimize disruptions. “Approximately 10% of our food purchases come from the U.S., but we are bringing most of it back to Canada,” Fracheboud said. “We are all in this together, and we have to do what’s right for our country.”
Mandy’s also prioritizes Canadian-made products in its restaurant build-outs. “99.5% of our kitchen equipment is from Canada,” she said. “Even for decor items like ceramics, we are now being more diligent about sourcing locally.”
Looking Ahead
Mandy’s Gourmet Salads has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the back of a women’s clothing store in Westmount. Today, the brand is not just a restaurant chain but a lifestyle, offering cookbooks, grocery products, and a carefully curated dining experience.
With ambitious plans for 30-40 locations and a focus on quality over quantity, Mandy’s is set to become a household name across Canada. “We create something unique that will be very hard to recreate at home,” Fracheboud said. “Our customers keep coming back, and that’s what makes this journey so exciting.”
