Così Inc. has entered into an agreement with Fast Casual Panamá S. de RL to develop five franchised Così restaurants in the Republic of Panamá. The first will open later this year, according to a company press release. The principals of Fast Casual Panamá S. de RL also own Fast Casual Ltda., which owns and operates six franchised Così restaurants in Costa Rica.

“We are proud to have Fast Casual Ltda., our franchise partner in Costa Rica, now developing into the Republic of Panamá,” said RJ Dourney, Cosi’s president and CEO. “They have been outstanding business partners since 2012, and together we see this as further establishing the foundation for Cosi to penetrate Central America and beyond in the years to come. Additionally, this is an important milestone in the execution of this year’s operating strategy.”

Dourney said the brand has made requisite adjustments to its operating strategy in the latter half of 2015, which allows the brand to enter 2016 with strong momentum.

“Our operating strategy is fully focused on the four cornerstones that will lead us through the foundational change needed to steadily set the stage for growth,” he said. “First, we will continue to drive traffic into our restaurants via both brand initiatives and operating focus. Second, we will continue to manage our cash burn and shift to cash generation. Third, we will continue seeding the growth of our franchise system, and finally, we will continue strengthening our talent base and culture.”