Tortilla to target more travel hubs as it expands SSP partnership

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Tortilla is aiming to triple its number of travel hub locations under an expansion of its partnership with SSP.

The new five-year agreement will see Tortilla's presence in SSP-operated rise from six to 18 sites.

It follows the launch of Tortilla's latest airport location in Glasgow's main departure lounge in September.

“We’re 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 fuelling our growth across these sites,” says Andy Naylor, CEO at Tortilla.

“Looking ahead, we see major strategic opportunities to accelerate growth through expanding our franchise network in 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 down on franchising’ as part of a five-point plan of refined strategic priorities to drive profit in the years ahead.

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

Like-for-like sales rose by 3.6%, while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) saw a 16% increase from £4m in 2022 to £4.6m in 2023.

In total, Tortilla reported a loss before tax of £1.1m for the period, widening slightly from £0.9m the year before.

Back 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.