Tortilla to roll out more restaurants in UK travel hubs

Mexican restaurant group Tortilla is set to continue expanding into travel hubs after extending its partnership with SSP.

The burrito brand will open four new restaurants through the franchise in 2024 and said it had an “exciting pipeline” of opportunities lined up for 2025.

SSP and Tortilla began working together in 2019 with the launch of a restaurant at Euston station in London. Together, the groups now operate five sites across the UK, the most recent of which opened at Manchester Piccadilly train station in 2023.

Tortilla was founded in 2007 and runs around 85 UK restaurants and has partnerships with Compass Group UK & Ireland, Growth Kitchens, and Karma Kitchens.

The chain said franchise partnerships were a key part of its expansion plan as “transport hubs, universities and other such locations become an increasingly important channel to access consumers”, while its simple kitchen set-up was easy to replicate.

Richard Morris, chief executive at Tortilla, said: “Whilst Covid inevitably impacted the rate at which we opened sites, we have since launched record breaking sites in London Gatwick and Bristol Airport, as well as Leeds MSA and Manchester Piccadilly station.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with more UK travel locations, and potential European equivalents over the coming years given SSP’s strong foothold across 37 countries globally.”

Internationally, Tortilla operates 10 restaurants in Dubai and Saudi Arabia under franchise.