Mufuti Sanusi embodies the Mississauga motto of “pride in our past, faith in our future” as the new Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Square One Shopping Centre

Mufuti’s entrepreneurial spirit has taken her around the world – from establishing a foundation in business learning from her mother and grandmother to pursuing her Master of Business Administration degree in the United Kingdom to becoming the local Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga.

Embracing a business mindset at an early age

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Mufuti credits her passion for becoming a small business owner to two essential female leaders in her life: her mother and grandmother. The fourth of five children, Mufuti often spent time at her mother’s textile merchant company, a wholesaler and retailer, where she gained valuable business lessons as a young teenager. From learning about operations and systems to observing how her grandmother would coach and mentor salespeople, these experiences ignited a spark in her that continued to grow over time.

“Business was a part of me,” she explains. “Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, I knew I wanted to run my own business one day.”

When her mother took the helm of the family business, Mufuti admired how her mom – a hard worker who did not receive a formal education – brought the business to another level by being a major wholesale distributor to other retailers. “I began asking myself, ‘What was I going to do to develop myself as a business owner?’”

To support Mufuti’s dreams, her mother encouraged her to attend boarding school, which prepared her to pursue an accounting degree abroad upon graduation from high school. In 2008, she moved to Canada to attend York University and then worked for a series of respected financial institutions before continuing her business studies at Loughborough School of Business and Economics in the United Kingdom.

Discovering opportunities with Chick-fil-A

Shortly before beginning her master’s degree, Mufuti got her first taste of Chick-fil-A. While traveling to Houston for a family birthday celebration, Mufuti and her sister-in-law went to pick up a catering order from Chick-fil-A. Having never visited a Chick-fil-A restaurant before, she treated Mufuti to a meal.

“I tried the meal in the car and finished it before we got home,” she recalls. “I liked it so much that I affectionately started referring to Chick-fil-A as the ‘Good Food Company.’”

Years later, when traveling to and from Mexico for a vacation, she intentionally scheduled her flight layovers so she could visit the “Good Food Company” again. But on the return trip, she got a life-changing surprise: Chick-fil-A isn’t open on Sundays.

“As an accounting and finance major, my mind immediately started racing. What kind of company would voluntarily lose market share in an airport on a Sunday?”

The discovery inspired her to do further research on the brand, which is how she learned of the Chick-fil-A Leadership Development Program (LDP), a training opportunity that accelerates growth in talented, driven leaders through dynamic business experiences – ultimately preparing them to possibly become the local Owner/Operator of their own Chick-fil-A restaurant in the future. Mufuti was impressed by both the company and the entrepreneurial opportunity, so when Chick-fil-A announced they were expanding in Canada, Mufuti immediately applied – and the rest is history.

Living out her purpose

Early in her LDP experience, Mufuti learned of a well-known quote from Chick-fil-A Founder S. Truett Cathy: “We should be about more than just selling chicken. We should be a part of our customers’ lives and the communities in which we serve.”

That sentiment resonated with Mufuti and reinforced her decision to become a local Owner/Operator. For her, owning her own business is about more than fulfilling her childhood aspirations – it’s about paying it forward and helping others achieve their dreams.

“At my core, my true passion and purpose is to be a resource and a bridgebuilder,” explains Mufuti. “I want to encourage others to dare to dream and help them achieve their goals in life, just like my mother did for me.”

When Mufuti’s Chick-fil-A restaurant at Square One Shopping Centre opens in August 2023, she looks forward to embracing the Mississauga mantra of “Leading Today for Tomorrow” as she mentors the leaders in her restaurant and cares for the local community.

Our growth in Canada

Chick-fil-A plans to 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.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a restaurant company known for the Original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich and signature hospitality. Represented by more than 190,000 Team Members, Operators and Staff, Chick-fil-A® restaurants serve guests freshly prepared food at more than 2,800 restaurants in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.  The family-owned and privately held restaurant company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy and is committed to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate.      

Known for its leadership and growth opportunities, in 2022 Chick-fil-A was named a Best Employer in America by Forbes and a top company for career opportunities for Black employees by Glassdoor. The company was also awarded the Employee’s Choice by Glassdoor honoring top CEOs and was named a Culture 500 Culture Champion in 2020. A leader in customer service, Chick-fil-A was named QSR magazine’s Drive-Thru Restaurant of the Year in 2021. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at chick-fil-a.com and @ChickfilANews.