From Food Trailer to Multi-Province Franchise Shelby's Legendary Shawarma has scaled from a $10,000 food trailer in Lambeth, Ontario to 37 locations across the province in just over a decade. The brand, founded by Yazan and Yasser—two college friends with shared Middle Eastern roots—began by selling their mother's traditional chicken shawarma and has since expanded into a franchise system with ambitions reaching south of the border. The company launched its first permanent location in London, Ontario in February 2015, followed by its first food truck later that year. Shelby's claims to have been London's second-ever food truck and the region's first halal-certified mobile unit. Franchise growth accelerated in 2021, when the brand opened six locations across the London area. By 2022, Shelby's had entered the Greater Toronto Area, and last year added 10 more franchised units to that region.

Brand Milestones and Operator Backing Shelby's has secured official partnerships with Toronto FC, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the University of Western Ontario's Western Mustangs athletic program. The brand has also set two Guinness World Records: a 152-foot-3-inch chicken shawarma wrap in 2019 and a 62-meter falafel wrap in 2023. In 2025, the brand launched Abbas' Smoothies as a complementary product line and announced plans to begin expansion into the United States. Andrew Kirkwood, Vice President of Technology, joined the leadership team to oversee store infrastructure, point-of-sale systems, digital ordering, loyalty programs, and AI initiatives as the brand scales. "Great food and great service only scale when the systems behind them are strong," Kirkwood said in a statement provided by the company.

Why It Matters

Shelby's growth trajectory—from a single food trailer to nearly 40 locations in less than 11 years—demonstrates sustained demand for fast-casual Middle Eastern concepts in Canada's QSR market. The brand's focus on franchise support systems and technology infrastructure signals preparation for larger-scale expansion, particularly as it pursues U.S. entry.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors