Tortilla will target more travel hubs as it expands its SSP partnership

The new five-year agreement will increase Tortilla’s presence in SSP from six to 18 locations.

Tortilla’s latest airport location is due to launch in Glasgow’s main departure lounge in September.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with SSP for another five years, particularly given the strong sales performance we have seen this year. SSP’s ability to secure prime locations in airports and travel hubs has played a key role in driving brand awareness and driving our growth in these sites,” says Andy Naylor, CEO at Tortilla.

“Looking ahead, we see major strategic opportunities to accelerate growth by expanding our franchise network across the UK and Europe, both with existing and new partners.”

Earlier this year Tortilla, which has more than 80 sites and positions itself as the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant group, said it intended to “double the franchise”​as part of a five-point plan of refined strategic priorities to generate profit for years to come.

The group reported a 14% rise in revenue to £65.7m in its results for the year ending 31 December 2023.

Like-for-like sales rose 3.6%, while adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 16% from £4m in 2022 to £4.6m sterling in 2023.

In total, Tortilla reported a pre-tax loss of £1.1m for the period, up slightly from £0.9m the previous year.

In June, the group acquired France’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant group, Fresh Burritos​​, which it said would provide a platform to accelerate its ambitions to franchise across Europe.