A young man from Mérida, Samuel Chan López, has put the name of Yucatán, Mexico, and Grupo Nicxa at the top of the international stage by winning first place in the Whopper Challenge 2025, held in Lisbon, Portugal—an event organized by Burger King.
Representing the Burger King Montejo branch, Samuel not only made a perfect Whopper, but he did it in record time: 10 seconds, an unprecedented achievement among more than half a million employees worldwide.
At 22 years old and with two and a half years of experience with the brand, Samuel was chosen from among chefs from the 18 BK branches in Mérida, overcoming regional and national stages until reaching the global final, where he faced off against representatives from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
“This achievement is not just Samuel’s, it’s the entire team’s,” said an excited Gabriela Cejudo Valencia, president of Grupo Nicxa, during the press conference.
The young man shared his dream of traveling to Japan, continuing his culinary studies, and investing part of the $10,000 prize he won. He also shared his family’s presence to applaud his achievement.
The excellence Samuel achieved reflects the quality of the work model promoted by Grupo Nicxa, where employees work five days a week and rest two, fostering their well-being and personal growth. “We look for comfortable, fulfilled, and committed employees,” said Jorge Iván Ongay Xacur, brand director.
Daily training and passion for his work were key to Samuel achieving this result, becoming a symbol of discipline and self-improvement.
ABOUT GRUPO NICXA:
Grupo Nicxa is a Yucatecan company based in Mérida that operates restaurant franchises in southeastern Mexico, including brands such as KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, El Fogoncito, and Los Bisquets de Obregón, in states such as Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Chiapas.
The company stands out for its commitment to the well-being of its employees, offering a safe work environment, training and development plans, and exclusive benefits.
Grupo Nicxa has more than 2,000 employees and has been recognized as a “Super Company” for its work environment.
Source: Novedades Yucatán
