Ori'Zaba's: Elevating Fast-Casual Dining with Scratch-Made Mexican Flavors

Ori'Zaba's Scratch Mexican Grill is a fast-casual restaurant franchise founded in 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Inspired by the culinary traditions of the Mount Orizaba region in Mexico, Ori'Zaba's serves scratch-made Mexican dishes prepared fresh daily. The brand began franchising in 2018 and is now headquartered in Englewood, Colorado.

Ori'Zaba's sets itself apart with a health-conscious and customizable menu.

It offers gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and oil-free options, appealing to diverse dietary needs. Signature items like the Zabarita, burritos, tacos, and bowls are made from fresh, never-frozen ingredients, reinforcing the brand's commitment to quality and authenticity.

Training

Ori’Zaba’s provides a structured training program for franchisees to ensure consistency and operational quality across all its locations. The training programs offered by the franchisor include the following:

1. Initial “Train-the-Trainer” Training (OZTTT): This program is mandatory and must be completed between 30 to 60 days prior to opening the restaurant. It is provided at certified training restaurants or another approved location in the U.S. and is offered at no cost for up to two trainees per franchise, though all travel and personal expenses are borne by the franchisee. Additional trainees incur a fee.
2. Learning Management System (LMS) Training: All franchise owners and active employees must complete designated modules within Ori’Zaba’s Learning Management System within 45 days of hire.
3. Remedial and Additional Training: If operational deficiencies are identified, or if requested, Ori’Zaba’s offers remedial or additional training at a fee. These may take place at the franchise location or company headquarters.
4. Annual Franchisee Meeting: Franchisees may be required to attend annual meetings, where additional training and business updates are provided. Attendance costs, including travel and lodging, are the responsibility of the franchisee.
5. Refresher Training: Ori’Zaba’s may require refresher training for franchisees and managers, especially when deemed necessary for compliance or business improvements. Tuition may apply for sessions held outside the corporate office.

Territory Protection

Ori’Zaba’s does not offer an exclusive territory to its franchisees, but it does provide a designated “Protected Area” during the term of the Franchise Agreement. Within this Protected Area, the franchisor agrees not to establish or license another Ori’Zaba’s Restaurant, as long as the franchisee remains in compliance.

The typical Protected Area is a two-mile radius around the restaurant but may vary depending on population density and location type. However, the protection is limited, as Ori’Zaba’s reserves significant rights within and outside of this territory.

These include operating non-traditional locations like airport or stadium outlets, running mobile food services, and using alternative distribution channels such as online sales. Furthermore, the franchisor may implement multi-area marketing or technological deployments that impact customers in any location, including those within a franchisee's Protected Area.