Jimmy John’s, the American sandwich chain famed for its “freaky fast” service and fresh ingredients, is accelerating its Canadian expansion. After debuting in Toronto in late 2024, the brand has now opened a second location at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls. This latest launch is part of an ambitious plan to open 12 new Canadian restaurants by the end of 2025.
Montreal-based Foodtastic, the Canadian master franchisor of Jimmy John’s, has laid out a long-term vision of opening as many as 200 locations nationwide within the next decade. The rollout will focus on building strong regional clusters, beginning with Ontario, before expanding more broadly across the country.’
The Fallsview Casino location, which opened this week, represents Jimmy John’s second Canadian store. Positioned in one of the country’s most heavily trafficked tourist destinations, the new restaurant benefits from high visitor volumes year-round. A grand opening celebration, organized in partnership with Fallsview Casino, is scheduled for September.
Peter Mammas, CEO of Foodtastic, expressed excitement at the rapid pace of openings. “We have a big appetite for opening new stores because we know how much our fellow Canadians appreciate a fantastic-tasting sandwich with fresh ingredients,” he said. “We’re always on the hunt for the world’s best food brands and are committed to making these available right here in our country. And Jimmy John’s is right up there – pickle or not.”
12 Locations Planned by Year-End
Following Toronto and Niagara Falls, more Jimmy John’s restaurants are scheduled to open across Canada by year’s end. New sites will include Winnipeg, Ottawa, Edmonton, Barrie, Windsor, and several in the Greater Toronto Area. The company’s strategy is to create a concentrated presence that quickly builds brand recognition and operational efficiency.
Foodtastic initially operates new stores as corporate-owned locations to maintain quality and fine-tune operations. The franchisor plans to eventually transition many of these outlets into franchisee hands once systems are firmly in place.
The Canadian rollout includes a key menu change designed to appeal to local tastes: toasted sandwiches. While the feature is not available in the brand’s U.S. locations, Foodtastic has introduced it in Canada in response to consumer preferences.
Otherwise, the menu remains consistent with Jimmy John’s U.S. offering, emphasizing bread baked fresh multiple times daily, meats sliced in-house, and vegetables prepared fresh each morning. Options include traditional French bread, thick-sliced wheat bread, and the “Unwich” lettuce wrap for carb-conscious guests. Sides include the brand’s signature Jimmy Chips, kettle-cooked and seasoned on-site.
From One Store to 200
The opening of a dozen new stores in 2025 is just the beginning of Jimmy John’s Canadian ambitions. Foodtastic’s long-term plan is to scale the brand to 200 locations across the country, representing one of the most ambitious foreign restaurant expansions in recent Canadian history.
“We’re investing in Jimmy John’s because we absolutely love the entire menu,” said Mammas. “We’re happy that, like us, our friends at Fallsview Casino have discovered the incredible taste of these sandwiches.”
Founded in 1983 by Jimmy John Liautaud in Illinois, Jimmy John’s has grown to more than 2,600 locations in the United States. Known for its simple menu and “freaky fast” delivery, the brand is now part of Inspire Brands, which also owns Arby’s, Dunkin’, and Baskin-Robbins.
Foodtastic, based in Montreal, is one of Canada’s fastest-growing restaurant groups. Founded in 2016, the company operates more than 1,200 restaurants across over 27 brands, with system-wide sales surpassing $1 billion. Its portfolio includes Canadian names such as Milestones, Pita Pit, Second Cup Café, and Freshii, alongside international concepts.
I am thrilled that Foodtastic has brought the Jimmy John’s brand to Canada. Canadians will finally have somewhere to eat outside of the home, just as the arrival of Nordstrom in the country in 2014 finally gave them the option of buying ready-made clothes instead of having to sew them by hand. I wonder if the concept of submarine sandwiches isn’t a bit too radical, however. Canadians have never seen or heard of made-to-order subs: it’s not like there are five or six other well-known chains already offering a very similar menu at locations across the country. I can only hope that Jimmy John’s is as successful in Canada as Nordstrom’s stores have been.