As part of Auctor’s new major shareholding it has nominated managing partner Usman Ali to take the role of non-executive director at Tortilla, replacing Loeiz Lagadec, who will step down having represented Quilvest’s interest on the board.
Tortilla says the appointment underscores its ‘strategic emphasis’ on technology as one of its Vital 5 growth pillars.
The group revealed its new strategic vision, called the Vital 5, in April last year. The initiatives are designed to improve UK profitability at the business, invest in brand growth and technology, ‘double down’ on franchising, and develop the brand internationally.
“I am delighted to welcome Auctor as a new major shareholder in the company, and feel our strategies and experience are aligned to further drive our tech-enabled growth,” says Andy Naylor, CEO at Tortilla.
“Technology remains one of our Vital 5 strategic pillars. In 2024, we made good progress on this strategy, introducing self-service kiosks and new food-prep equipment that have driven a notable lift in operational efficiencies.”
With the backing and expertise of Auctor, Naylor adds that the group plans to keep trialling tech solutions that ‘fuel both operational improvements and sustained customer growth’.
They include innovations such as robotics, advanced data analytics, and AI-powered customer engagement tools.
“We are excited to support Tortilla’s Vital 5 strategy, combining Tortilla’s exceptional quality, beloved Mexican recipes, and strong value proposition with cutting-edge technological advancements designed to elevate operational efficiency and enhance the customer experience,” says Ali.
“As the leading fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand in Europe, these initiatives will play a pivotal role in driving shareholder value.”
Founded in 2007, Tortilla positions itself as Europe’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand.
The group operates 81 UK locations, of which 13 are franchise stores; 28 in France, of which 15 are franchise stores; and 12 franchise stores in the Middle East.
