Franchising in Guatemala: September openings and recruitment

September 2026 brings three developments at different stages of progress in Guatemala’s franchise sector: H&M has announced an opening date for its third shop, Olive Garden is preparing its arrival by recruiting staff, and McDonald’s reports two openings alongside two refurbishments. These updates distinguish between upcoming openings, preparations under way and outlets that have already joined an operating network.

H&M sets its next opening at Portales

H&M announced that its third shop in Guatemala will open at 10 am on Saturday 19 September 2026 at the Portales shopping centre in Guatemala City. The information, published by PDCC on 2 September, identifies both the location and the size of the premises.

The shop will cover 2,141 square metres and offer clothing for women, men and children. The planned opening will expand the brand’s retail presence in the country with another shopping centre location.

The announcement also mentions the involvement of an H&M franchise partner for Central America, the Caribbean and Venezuela. This places the project within the franchise sector, although the available extract does not name the operator.

For those tracking the expansion of international brands in Guatemala, the announcement provides specific details on timing, floor space and product range. However, it should be read as a planned opening: the report gives the expected opening date, rather than confirming that the shop is already serving customers.

Olive Garden moves forward with recruitment

Recruitment is the latest sign of preparations for Olive Garden’s first restaurant in Guatemala. According to a report published by La Hora on 13 September, the chain held a recruitment fair that month for roles across its full-service restaurant operation, following an August recruitment drive focused on kitchen staff.

The roles mentioned include managers, bar staff, service assistants and food preparation staff. This sequence shows that recruitment covers a range of functions needed to run the restaurant, beyond kitchen work alone.

La Hora reports that the Italian-American restaurant brand is entering the country with Grupo Pirámide, describing the recruitment process as part of the final stage before its first Guatemalan outlet opens.

Unlike H&M’s announcement, the available information on Olive Garden gives neither an opening date nor a restaurant address. The recruitment drives therefore indicate progress in preparations, but do not confirm that the restaurant is open to the public. Nor do they provide a total number of vacancies that would allow the expected employment impact to be quantified.

McDonald’s combines new outlets with refurbishments

McDonald’s reported activity includes both new restaurants and upgrades to existing locations. PDCC reported that the chain opened restaurants in Chitatul, Quiché, and in the food court at El Frutal shopping centre in Villa Nueva.

Alongside these openings, the brand announced refurbishments to its restaurants in Zone 5 of Guatemala City and Cayalá, in Zone 16. The announcement describes these upgrades as a way to offer customers a faster, more comfortable experience.

According to the company announcement reported by PDCC, these projects together created more than 119 formal employment opportunities, aimed mainly at young people starting their careers. That figure relates to the projects as a whole; the source provides no breakdown by outlet.

L’Express Franchise identifies McDonald’s Mesoamérica as the operator under a regional master franchise. In addition to Guatemala, its territory covers El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. The business belongs to the Cofiño family, which acquired the brand’s rights in Guatemala in 1974.

Three updates, different milestones to verify

These announcements do not represent the same stage of expansion. H&M is announcing a scheduled opening; Olive Garden is building its teams before welcoming customers; and McDonald’s is reporting openings and refurbishments. Keeping these distinctions clear makes it easier to track developments in Guatemala’s franchise sector accurately.

For entrepreneurs, suppliers and jobseekers, the practical advice is to verify the relevant milestone in each case: confirm that the announced opening has taken place, check whether recruitment campaigns are still active, and distinguish new outlets from refurbished branches before making decisions.