Global franchise success began in Canberra 20 years ago
100 million meals donated to those in need
Tracking towards 400 restaurants with plans solidified to reach 500
30 December 2025: When Dr Sam Prince opened a small Mexican restaurant in Canberra 20 years ago this Wednesday (31 December), the idea that a fast-casual food business could balance social impact with commercial success was met with deep scepticism.
At the time, few believed a purpose-led model could survive in a highly competitive sector, let alone scale.
Two decades on, that small Canberra start-up has grown into Zambrero - a global franchise business operating across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States - with over 300 restaurants worldwide and more than 100 million meals donated to people in need.
Founded in Canberra on 31 December 2005 while Dr Prince was a medical student, Zambrero was built on the premise that doing good did not need to sit outside the commercial engine of a business.
The business now employs thousands of people globally through its franchise network and is tracking toward 400 restaurants in the near term, with plans solidified to reach 500 restaurants globally.
The 20-year anniversary coincides with Zambrero recently reaching its 100 millionth donated meal through its Plate 4 Plate initiative. Through its Plate 4 Plate program, Zambrero donates a meal to someone in need for every burrito or bowl purchased. To mark the milestone, the company undertook a nationwide giveaway of 100,000 burritos, with each burrito triggering another meal donation.
Dr Prince said the milestone was less about celebration and more about evidence.
“When Zambrero started in Canberra, the idea that a food business could make a real difference while also succeeding commercially had very few believers,” he said.
“Twenty years on, reaching 100 million plates shows that the model works when it’s built properly. What began here has grown into a global franchise because customers and franchise partners backed the idea and proved it could scale.”
Zambrero CEO Daryl McCormack said the business’s longevity reflected the discipline applied to the business model.
“Zambrero didn’t grow because it was idealistic. It grew because the fundamentals stacked up,” he said.
“Purpose was embedded from the beginning, but it’s operational discipline, franchise economics and consistent execution that have allowed the buspiness to scale from Canberra to multiple international markets and sustain that growth over 20 years.”
Zambrero’s first restaurant opened in Canberra on 31 December 2005. The ACT remains the birthplace of a business that has since become one of Australia’s most successful globally scaled, purpose-led franchise models.
About us:
About Zambrero:
Zambrero is Feel Good Mex. A restaurant franchise serving fresh and Mexican-inspired food, with a humanitarian enterprise at its heart. Zambrero is committed to helping end world hunger through its Plate 4 Plate initiative, which donates a meal to someone in need with every burrito or bowl purchased.
Zambrero was founded in Canberra, Australia, in 2005 by Dr Sam Prince, who was a 21-year-old medical student at the time. He has grown the brand to be Australia’s largest Mexican group, with now over 300 restaurants across all Australian states and the globe in the US, United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand.
For more information, visit zambrero.com.au
About Plate 4 Plate:
Zambrero’s mission is to help end world hunger through its Plate 4 Plate initiative. With every regular burrito or bowl purchased, a meal is donated to someone in need through its partners at Rise Against Hunger, Love Mercy and Foodbank.
Since its inception, the company has donated over 100 million meals.
Visit zambrero.com.au/plate4plate
Contact details:
For media enquiries, please contact LJ Loch at [email protected] or 0488 038 555
