Mini Tortilla to launch as the brand looks beyond the high street

The new Tortilla 800 concept, so-named as each site will be less than 800 sq ft in size, is designed to serve more customers on-the-go.

The first restaurant under the format will launch in Putney on 25 November. With just 20-covers, it will be half the size of a regular Tortilla site.

Tortilla managing director Richard Morris says the new design will allow the brand, which launched in Islington ten years ago, to continue to expand beyond the high street.

“With the increasing demand on sites, higher rents, rates and lack of availability in high street locations, the Tortilla 800 concept means we can compete for sites previously not on our radar,” says Morris.

“The model allows us to set up in smaller residential, or office-based areas with lower costs, and still deliver the required sales due to a higher percentage of take-away and delivery.”

BigHospitality’s​ sister site MCA​ ​​has reported that Tortilla has secured a second site under the format in the St George’s shopping centre in Harrow, opening early next year.

It comes after a number of high street brands have launched smaller takeaway sites in recent years.

Casual Dining Group began trialling a grab-and-go version of Cafe Rouge​​ in London in 2014, and launched French ‘fast food’ concept Rapide​​ in Inverness Airport last year.

Costa also made a bid to banish queues with the launch of its fast-service Pronto brand in London transport hubs in 2016, and has since expanded to Bath.