Odd Burger is making major moves in 2025 with new store openings, a successful pizza launch, and a strategic retail partnership, according to James McInnes, the company’s CEO.
Odd Burger currently operates 20 locations, including 18 storefronts and two mobile units. “We have four or five more locations opening this spring,” McInnes said. The company is also preparing to expand into the U.S. later in 2025, with Washington State—likely Seattle—or Florida as potential markets.
“We’ve done really well in BC—almost double the unit sales. The West Coast is a strong market,” McInnes noted.
Pizza Launch a Massive Success
Odd Burger recently introduced a new healthier, personal-sized pizza, which has been a hit with customers. “We sold three or four thousand pizzas the first weekend. It was wild,” McInnes said. Initially launched as a limited-time offer for two months, its popularity may lead to it becoming a permanent menu item.
McInnes compared the move to Tim Hortons unexpected but successful pizza launch and highlighted how technology now enables quick preparation. “McDonald’s couldn’t keep pizza because they the technology did not exist to make it fast enough. Now, we can make a made-to-order pizza in a minute and 20 seconds,” he explained.
Strategic Partnership with Calgary Co-op
The company’s retail presence is also growing through a new partnership with Calgary Co-op, facilitated by a franchisee. “It’s a great example of how franchisees can be valuable partners—not just for their own store’s success, but for the brand overall,” McInnes said.
Calgary Co-op, which operates 22 locations, was eager to fill a gap in its plant-based product offerings. “A lot of brands disappeared, so they needed something established. They took all five of our SKUs,” McInnes said. The move is expected to boost brand awareness and drive restaurant traffic.
Consumer Packaged Goods: A Key Growth Strategy
McInnes sees Odd Burger’s consumer packaged goods (CPG) line as a major growth avenue. “Restaurants take time, effort, and the right franchise partners. But with packaged goods, we can control expansion and margins better. It also builds brand awareness, which benefits franchisees. It’s a win-win,” he said.
The Future of Food Tech and Sustainability
Odd Burger is also looking ahead at food technology advancements, including cultivated meat and fermented dairy proteins. “There are new technologies like cultivated meat and fermented dairy proteins. There’s technology now that can produce dairy proteins identical to the dairy from a cow,” McInnes said. “There’s going to be applications coming out in the near term that are going allow consumers to have real cheese and real dairy without these animals.
“It’s called clean protein because there’s no slaughter, lower contamination risk, and no growth hormones. These technologies will change the playing field. Odd Burger plans to be on the cutting edge of all these new technologies and new foods coming out.”
With continued expansion, innovative menu offerings, and a strategic approach to retail, Odd Burger is poised for significant growth in 2025 and beyond.
