Tortilla serves up record UK growth amid European Expansion

Tortilla Mexican Grill has announced its unaudited interim results for the 26 weeks to 29 June 2025, highlighting record progress in its UK business alongside continued investment in France.

In the UK, like-for-like sales rose by 5% during the first half of the year, significantly outperforming the sector, which saw declines of 2.5% in the first quarter and 3.4% in the second.

The momentum has carried into the third quarter, with like-for-like sales up 7% to date.

Chief executive Andy Naylor credited this success to continued investment in food quality, menu innovation and brand marketing, with recent additions such as protein pots and seasonal salads proving popular. The company’s Burrito Society loyalty app, now with more than 200,000 members, has further boosted repeat visits and customer engagement.

The UK and France

UK profitability has also reached new highs, with adjusted EBITDA of £2.4 million, up 33% on last year, supported by disciplined cost control and improved supplier negotiations.

Gross margin rose slightly to 78.3%, and new initiatives such as self-order kiosks – now live in 34 sites – have delivered a measurable sales uplift.

Investment in team training, retention and guest experience technology has strengthened service, with the Group also exploring robotics trials in 2026 to further improve efficiency.

In France, Tortilla continues to integrate sites acquired last year, with four now trading under the Tortilla name and two more due to open by early October. These are supported by a central production kitchen in Lille, designed to provide the infrastructure for significant future scale.

While the conversion project is progressing more slowly than initially planned, the company remains confident of the long-term opportunity, even as near-term profitability is impacted by the timing of rollouts.

Group outlook

Group revenue for the first half rose to £36 million, up from £31.5 million last year, although investment in France meant adjusted EBITDA came in at £1.2 million compared with £1.8 million in the same period of 2024.

Overall, the Group posted a pre-tax loss of £2.3 million, with the UK delivering a marginal £0.3 million loss and France contributing a £2 million loss linked to the conversion programme. Adjusted net debt stood at £9.8 million following a refinancing with Santander that increased facilities to £12.5 million.

Although full-year Group adjusted EBITDA is forecast to be around 10% below previous expectations due to the timing of investments, the company remains confident in its growth strategy.

Looking ahead, Tortilla expects FY25 to be its most profitable year ever in the UK, with strong customer demand and efficiency measures boosting margins. In France, extended planning processes are expected to streamline future rollouts, laying the groundwork for a scalable platform across Europe from 2026 onwards.

Naylor praised the team’s achievements despite sector-wide challenges, noting that “our ongoing investment in food quality and innovation as well as brand marketing continues to resonate with customers.” With strong UK trading, a growing loyalty base and a clear international roadmap, Tortilla is positioning itself for sustained growth at home and abroad.

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