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.

• 2025

  Australian network reaches 237 restaurants

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

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

• 2024

  Australian Securities Exchange listing

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

  Guzman y Gomez becomes publicly listed on 20 June.

• 2023

  Co-chief executive structure introduced

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

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

• 2020

  United States expansion resumes

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

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

• 2018

  TDM Growth Partners invests in the company

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

  TDM Growth Partners acquires a stake in Guzman y Gomez.

• 2015

  First Japanese restaurant opens in Tokyo

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

  The company extends its international presence to Japan.

• 2013

  International expansion begins in Singapore

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

  GYG opens its first restaurant outside Australia in Singapore.

• 2012

  Network reaches 12 restaurants

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

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

• 2009

  Minority investment from former McDonald's Australia executives

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

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

• 2006

  First restaurant opens in Newtown, Sydney

  [1]Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org

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

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

• Mexican-inspired quick-service meal

  Burritos

  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.

• Mexican-inspired quick-service meal

  Tacos

  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.

• Mexican-inspired quick-service meal

  Nachos

  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.

• Mexican-inspired quick-service meal

  Rice bowls

  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.

• Coffee and beverage concept

  Cafe Hola

  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.

• 2024

  Australian Securities Exchange listingOther

  Background

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

  Action taken

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

  Aftermath

  Guzman y Gomez became a publicly listed restaurant company.

  Source

• 2023

  Adoption of a co-chief executive structureStrategy

  Background

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

  Action taken

  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.

  Source

• 2020

  Renewed United States expansionStrategy

  Background

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

  Action taken

  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.

  Source

• 2015

  Entry into JapanStrategy

  Background

  GYG continued its overseas development after entering Singapore.

  Action taken

  The company opened a restaurant in Tokyo.

  Aftermath

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

  Source

• 2013

  International expansion into SingaporeStrategy

  Background

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

  Action taken

  The company opened its first international restaurant in Singapore.

  Aftermath

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

  Source

• 2021.03.03

  Reported2021.03.03

  Guzman y Gomez launches mobile app[2]Guzman y Gomez推出移动应用fastcasual.com

  Guzman y Gomez launched a mobile app for customers to view the menu, order ahead, and pick up in-store or via drive-thru. The app includes the GOMEX loyalty system.

Read more

1. 1Guzman y Gomezen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Guzman y Gomez推出移动应用fastcasual.com