TORONTO – Chick-fil-A announced that Toronto, Ontario will be the location of the quick-service chain’s first restaurant outside the United States.

The Chick-fil-A in Toronto will open in 2019 and will be franchised. The company is focused on expanding in the Greater Toronto Area and plans to open 15 stores in the five years.

“Toronto is a great city — with diverse and caring people and a vibrant restaurant culture with a deep talent pool,” said Tim Tassopoulos, president and chief operating officer, Chick-fil-A. “These strengths align perfectly with Chick-fil-A's focus on community giving, delivering a premium product, and working with passionate people that can grow with our company — making Toronto the perfect choice for international expansion.”

Based in Atlanta, Chick-fil-A, a family owned, privately held company founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy, operates 2,300 restaurants in 47 states and the District of Columbia. The company reported more than $9 billion in revenue in 2017.