Healthy Mexican, Guzman y Gomez, will open 38 new restaurants around Australia over the next 18 months, of which 24 will be drive-thrus.

The move comes as part of Guzman y Gomez’s push to reinvent fast food for the 21st century and meets strong consumer demand for the drive-thru restaurants. A recent post on GYG’s facebook page of drive-thru signage organically reached over 600k people, attracted 6k comments and 400 shares from customers across Australia wanting to know if their suburb was next in line.

GYG founder and managing director, Steven Marks said, “Our customers have spoken and we’ve listened. We’re so pleased to be announcing 38 new locations around Australia. GYG is here to shake up fast food and we’re showing customers they don’t have to compromise on quality for the sake of convenience and speed. Hello GYG drive-thrus!

“We have some exciting plans for our drive-thru restaurants and look forward to introducing these to our customers over the coming 12-18 months.

Guzman y Gomez opened its first drive-thru in 2015 in Nerang, Queensland and added two more in 2016 in Bakewell (NT) and Albany Creek (QLD).

GYG’s new partnership with Caltex will see the opening of four new pilot restaurants across VIC and NSW — two with drive thru facilities — and the potential for additional locations after the trial. The new Caltex restaurants will provide a full Guzman y Gomez restaurant experience with the entire menu offering. Marks added; “We pride ourselves on giving our guests the best experience possible, so we’re putting our own crew into each Caltex store to ensure our food and customer service is of the same high standard you’ve come to expect from GYG.”

The news follows hot on the heels of Guzman y Gomez being named the quick-service restaurant of the year at the The Roy Morgan Research Customer Satisfaction Awards.

“We’re not slowing down. From menu innovation and new product launches to using technology to deliver healthy Mexican food to even more Australians, 2017 is going to be a massive year for us so watch this space,” concluded Marks.

Confirmed store openings for 2017 include:

• South Yarra VIC — Caltex
• Tullamarine VIC — Caltex Drive- thru
• St Ives NSW — Caltex
• Werrington NSW — Caltex Drive-thru
• Belmont WA
• Gungahlin ACT
• Toowoomba QLD
• Acacia Ridge QLD — Drive-thru
• Maroochydore QLD — Drive-thru
• Springfield QLD — Drive-thru
• Capalaba QLD — Drive-thru
• Burleigh Heads QLD — Drive-thru
• Bendigo VIC — Drive-thru
• International Convention Centre (ICC) Darling harbour NSW
• Coffs Harbour NSW  — Drive-thru
• Hoxton Park NSW — Drive-thru
• Marsden Park NSW — Drive-thru