Our lemonade is a customer favorite. Turns out, it's also the perfect base for making your own herbal infusions at home.
Ibukun Olubiyi, the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Tanger Ottawa, aims to win the hearts of the Kanata community through great food, exemplary hospitality and positivity
Great and quality food. Quick and accurate service. Exemplary hospitality. Positivity. These priorities are the “North Star” for local Owner-Operator Ibukun Olubiyi, who will open the first Chick-fil-A® restaurant in Ottawa in Summer 2024.
“I look forward to introducing the city of Ottawa to Chick-fil-A, developing great leaders in my Restaurant, and having the opportunity to positively influence our local community,” says Ibukun.
Her path to Ottawa and Chick-fil-A
A native of Lagos, Nigeria, Ibukun was raised between Lagos, London and Dublin before moving to Canada to complete a bachelor’s degree in sociology at McMaster University. It was during those university years that she first experienced Chick-fil-A.
“During Reading Week, of my final year of university in 2012, I traveled with about 50 other students to New Orleans, Louisiana, to partner with Habitat for Humanity and build homes for displaced residents who were still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,” she explains. “During our 27-hour drive, we stopped to eat at Chick-fil-A. To be honest, what stood out to me more than the food was the impeccable customer service, especially the Team Members who were extremely courteous as they took my order.”
After graduating from McMaster University in 2012, Ibukun moved to Ottawa to pursue a human resources management certificate from Algonquin College – and has called Canada’s capital city home for more than a decade. In 2019, she obtained an MBA from Loughborough University in the U.K. while still maintaining Ottawa as her home.
Building a legacy in Canada
As Chick-fil-A continued to expand across Canada, Ibukun saw an opportunity to create a true legacy in her local community.
“Legacy is important to me because I have seen the rewards of a great legacy in my family, where integrity was always at the centre of everything my family did and ultimately set me up for success,” Ibukun says. “I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had in Ottawa after graduating from university, most of which were a result of people taking a chance on me and developing my leadership abilities. I want to be able to do that for other young people in the city.”
For Ibukun, this includes prioritizing higher wages, mentorship and life coaching opportunities, such as providing immigration information sessions and financial planning support. Beyond supporting her more than 100 Team Members, she looks forward to giving back to the local community through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table™ food donation program, joining local community boards and getting involved in Ottawa business organizations.
“My vision for my Restaurant is to be a positive influence on everyone we come in contact with in the city of Ottawa,” she says. “Not only do I want to win the hearts of the Kanata community through an exceptional Chick-fil-A experience, but I also want to be a part of the solution for any challenges facing my local neighbourhoods.”
Our growth in Canada
Chick-fil-A will expand its long-term investment in Canada, growing to a total of 20 stores by 2025, with plans to open 7-10 restaurants per year thereafter. The company is looking for people who are passionate about the work of serving great food and providing exceptional hospitality in a fast-paced environment as independent franchised Owners-Operators of Chick–fil–A restaurant businesses. Learn more about franchising opportunities by visiting our Franchising page.
About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 Team Members are employed by independent owner-operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In 2023, the company shared plans to expand by 2030 into Europe and Asia.
Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts to address hunger, education, and making a positive impact. The family-owned and privately held company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.ca and @ChickfilANews.