Guzman y Gomez

Guzman y Gomez, commonly abbreviated as GYG, is an Australian Mexican-themed casual and quick-service restaurant chain. The business was established in Sydney in 2006 by Steven Marks and Robert Hazan, two New Yorkers who believed that Australian consumers had limited access to the kind of fast, energetic and street-influenced Mexican food they knew from the United States. Marks had previously worked as a hedge fund manager and decided to enter foodservice after relocating to Australia. The founders named the business after two childhood friends. The first Guzman y Gomez restaurant opened on King Street in Newtown, Sydney, in 2006. Early expansion included restaurants in Bondi Junction and Kings Cross, and the chain had reached 12 locations by April 2012. Its first Melbourne central business district restaurant opened in November 2012. Over the following years, GYG expanded through a combination of company-operated and franchised restaurants, ultimately reaching 100 Australian stores within its first 12 years. The brand's core proposition is Mexican-inspired food prepared for fast-service occasions. Its menu is built around burritos, tacos, nachos, bowls and related meals, with proteins, rice, beans, salsa and other toppings assembled to order. The chain also offers breakfast and beverage options in some locations. Certain restaurants operate coffee outlets under the Cafe Hola name, including locations designed to operate around the clock. This format allows the business to serve both meal occasions and coffee-led traffic rather than relying exclusively on lunch and dinner. GYG began international expansion in late 2013 with its first Singapore restaurant. It entered Japan with a Tokyo location in April 2015. The company later returned to North America, opening its first United States restaurant in Naperville, a suburb of Chicago, in January 2020; the chain had previously operated restaurants in the United States before that later expansion. The international business remains smaller than the Australian operation, with restaurants in Singapore and Japan. Ownership and governance developed alongside the chain's growth. Marks and Hazan initially funded the business themselves. In 2009, they sold a minority stake to Peter Ritchie, Guy Russo and Steve Jermyn, who had previously been associated with McDonald's Australia. Russo subsequently became chairman. TDM Growth Partners invested in the company in 2018, and Magellan Financial Group acquired a 10 percent interest in 2020. Magellan later sold an approximately 11.6 percent interest to an entity owned by Barrenjoey Capital Partners in 2022. GYG completed its listing on the Australian Securities Exchange on 20 June 2024. The company has continued to present itself as a growth-oriented restaurant operator with ambitions to increase its Australian store base and develop its international markets. The reference material identifies more than 200 restaurants overall, including 237 Australian restaurants at the end of 2025 and 29 locations across Singapore and Japan. By 2025, GYG was described as Australia's sixth-largest fast-food chain by system-wide revenue. Steven Marks remained a central figure in the business after reconsidering a proposed departure as chief executive following a health scare in 2023, while Hilton Brett was appointed co-chief executive in October 2023.

Guzman y Gomez was created in Sydney in 2006 by Steven Marks and Robert Hazan. Both founders were from New York, and Marks had worked in hedge-fund management before moving to Australia. Marks has explained the concept as a response to what he considered the poor quality and limited availability of Mexican food in Australia. The founders sought to introduce a more energetic, urban and street-food-inspired interpretation of Mexican cuisine, rather than a heavily formalized restaurant format. The name came from two of Marks's childhood friends. The original restaurant opened on King Street in Newtown. Locations in Bondi Junction and Kings Cross followed within roughly the first year, establishing a Sydney-centered operating base. By April 2012 the chain had grown to 12 restaurants. A Melbourne central business district location opened in November of that year, supporting the brand's movement beyond its original city. Over the next several years, the Australian network expanded substantially and reached 100 stores within 12 years of the company's establishment. GYG's service model combines quick preparation with assembly of meals to customer specifications. The menu centers on burritos, tacos, nachos and bowls, supported by rice, beans, proteins, salsas and toppings. The format is designed for takeaway, delivery and dine-in use. Some restaurants also include Cafe Hola, a coffee-focused concept that can operate continuously, including 24-hour locations. This broadens the chain's trading hours and allows it to compete for coffee and breakfast occasions as well as conventional fast-food demand. International growth began at the end of 2013, when the company opened its first Singapore restaurant. The first Japanese restaurant followed in Tokyo in April 2015. GYG also operated in the United States during an earlier phase of its development and later opened a new United States restaurant in Naperville, Illinois, in January 2020. Australia has remained the company's dominant market, while Singapore and Japan form its continuing international presence. The ownership structure changed as the company scaled. Marks and Hazan initially financed the chain themselves. In 2009 they sold a minority stake to Peter Ritchie, Guy Russo and Steve Jermyn, all associated with the McDonald's Australia business. Russo later became chairman. TDM Growth Partners invested in August 2018. Magellan Financial Group acquired a 10 percent holding in December 2020 and subsequently sold an approximately 11.6 percent interest in May 2022 to an entity owned by Barrenjoey Capital Partners. Marks said in 2019 that he wanted to list Guzman y Gomez on the Australian Securities Exchange. The company completed that objective on 20 June 2024. Marks remained a leading figure after a health-related announcement in May 2023 initially suggested that he would leave the chief executive role; he later reversed that decision. Hilton Brett was appointed co-chief executive in October 2023. By the end of 2025, the company was reported to operate 237 Australian restaurants and 29 additional locations in Singapore and Japan. It was also described as Australia's sixth-largest fast-food chain by system-wide revenue at that time.

1. 2025Australian network reaches 237 restaurants

   The company is reported to operate 237 Australian restaurants at the end of the year, with 29 more in Singapore and Japan.

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2. 2024Australian Securities Exchange listing

   Guzman y Gomez becomes publicly listed on 20 June.

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3. 2023Co-chief executive structure introduced

   Hilton Brett is appointed co-chief executive alongside Steven Marks.

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4. 2020United States expansion resumes

   GYG opens a restaurant in Naperville, Illinois, in January.

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5. 2018TDM Growth Partners invests in the company

   TDM Growth Partners acquires a stake in Guzman y Gomez.

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6. 2015First Japanese restaurant opens in Tokyo

   The company extends its international presence to Japan.

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7. 2013International expansion begins in Singapore

   GYG opens its first restaurant outside Australia in Singapore.

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8. 2012Network reaches 12 restaurants

   The chain is reported to have 12 stores by April, followed by its first Melbourne central business district location in November.

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9. 2009Minority investment from former McDonald's Australia executives

   Peter Ritchie, Guy Russo and Steve Jermyn acquire a minority interest in the business.

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10. 2006First restaurant opens in Newtown, Sydney

    Steven Marks and Robert Hazan establish Guzman y Gomez and open the first restaurant on King Street in Newtown.

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Mexican-inspired, urban and street-food-oriented quick-service dining with made-to-order meals, energetic branding and broad daypart coverage.

• BurritosMexican-inspired quick-service meal

  Burritos are one of GYG's central menu formats. They combine a tortilla with fillings such as seasoned proteins, rice, beans, salsa and other toppings, allowing the meal to be assembled according to customer preference. The format supports both dine-in and takeaway occasions.

• TacosMexican-inspired quick-service meal

  Tacos provide a smaller, hand-held alternative to the chain's burritos and bowls. They use the brand's broader system of proteins, beans, salsas and toppings and are positioned as a flexible meal or snack option within the Mexican-inspired menu.

• NachosMexican-inspired quick-service meal

  GYG's nachos extend its core ingredients into a shareable or individual format. The dish is based on corn chips and Mexican-style toppings such as beans, proteins, salsa and other additions, making it suitable for dine-in, takeaway and group occasions.

• Rice bowlsMexican-inspired quick-service meal

  Rice bowls offer the chain's ingredients without a tortilla. They generally combine rice, beans, a selected protein and fresh or prepared toppings, giving customers a meal format that can be customized while retaining the brand's Mexican-inspired flavor profile.

• Cafe HolaCoffee and beverage concept

  Cafe Hola is the coffee concept operated at some Guzman y Gomez restaurants. It helps the business participate in coffee and breakfast occasions and is associated with locations that may trade continuously, including 24-hour operations.

• 2024Australian Securities Exchange listingOther

  GYG had pursued a public-market listing as part of its long-term growth ambitions.

  What changed. The company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 20 June 2024.

  Aftermath. Guzman y Gomez became a publicly listed restaurant company.

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• 2023Adoption of a co-chief executive structureStrategy

  Steven Marks reconsidered leaving the chief executive role after a health scare.

  What changed. Hilton Brett was appointed co-chief executive alongside Marks.

  Aftermath. The leadership structure allowed Marks to remain involved while adding Brett to the top executive role.

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• 2020Renewed United States expansionStrategy

  The company pursued further international growth and identified the United States as a strategic opportunity.

  What changed. GYG opened its first restaurant in the United States in the Naperville area near Chicago.

  Aftermath. The United States became part of the company's later international expansion history.

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• 2015Entry into JapanStrategy

  GYG continued its overseas development after entering Singapore.

  What changed. The company opened a restaurant in Tokyo.

  Aftermath. Japan remained part of the company's international operating network.

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• 2013International expansion into SingaporeStrategy

  After developing an Australian restaurant base, GYG sought to extend its Mexican-themed quick-service format into overseas markets.

  What changed. The company opened its first international restaurant in Singapore.

  Aftermath. Singapore became one of the company's continuing international markets.

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• 2024Guzman y Gomez lists on the Australian Securities Exchange

  GYG became a publicly listed company on 20 June 2024.

  Other
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• 2023Steven Marks reconsiders departure as chief executive after health scare

  Marks announced that he was stepping down as chief executive because of a health scare, then changed his decision and remained with the business.

  Leadership change
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• 2023Hilton Brett appointed co-chief executive

  Hilton Brett joined Marks in the co-chief executive structure.

  Leadership change
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• 2022Magellan sells its GYG stake to a Barrenjoey-linked entity

  Magellan Financial Group sold an approximately 11.6 percent interest in the company to an entity owned by Barrenjoey Capital Partners.

  M&A
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• 2020GYG opens first restaurant in the United States during renewed expansion

  The company opened a restaurant in Naperville, Illinois, extending its international footprint into the United States.

  Product launch
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• 2020Magellan Financial Group acquires a 10 percent stake in GYG

  Magellan Financial Group purchased a substantial minority interest in Guzman y Gomez.

  M&A
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• 2018TDM Growth Partners invests in Guzman y Gomez

  Investment firm TDM Growth Partners acquired a stake in the restaurant chain.

  M&A
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• 2015GYG enters Japan with Tokyo restaurant

  Guzman y Gomez opened its first Japanese restaurant in Tokyo.

  Other
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• 2013Guzman y Gomez opens first Singapore restaurant

  The chain began its international expansion with a Singapore restaurant.

  Other
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• 2009GYG sells minority stake to former McDonald's Australia executives

  The founders sold a minority interest to Peter Ritchie, Guy Russo and Steve Jermyn, who had previously been involved with McDonald's Australia.

  M&A
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• 2006Guzman y Gomez founded in Sydney

  Steven Marks and Robert Hazan opened the first Guzman y Gomez restaurant on King Street in Newtown, Sydney.

  Other
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1. Guzman y Gomez