On August 18th Taco Bell UK, the Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant brand, will reach a landmark milestone with the opening of its 100th restaurant in Spalding, Lincolnshire.  

Having doubled the number of restaurants in the past 18 months, since the brand’s first UK store opening, the 100th store marks the ambitious growth plans that have become synonymous with the brand.  

The UK’s first Taco Bell opened in the Lakeside Shopping Centre in June 2010. With the goal of welcoming even more taco fans to the fold worldwide, the brand’s UK growth has aided Taco Bell in expanding its store count by 25% outside of the US, where the first Taco Bell restaurant was opened in 1973. The brand has no intentions of slowing down, Taco Bell and its international franchisees have plans to operate more than 1,000 restaurants internationally.

Gino Casciani, General Manager of Taco Bell in the UK & Europe, says: “We’re currently in one of the most exciting times for the UK QSR industry! An increasing number of iconic brands are making moves from the US and consumers have more choice than ever before, this means we need to go the extra mile for our incredibly loyal Taco Bell fans, which is something we delight in. The growth of the brand in the UK is testament to the incredible team we’ve built here who’ve managed to adapt to the ebb and flow to deliver a product we are proud of at every turn.”  

Casciani continues: “The doors opening on Taco Bell’s 100th store is a fitting time to reflect on the twelve years the franchise has been in operation in the UK and it’s an incredibly proud moment. However, as the business eyes up future moves, it will come as little surprise that we are setting our sights on further growth.”

Raja Adil, franchisee of Taco Bell Spalding, says: “It feels like the opening of the Spalding restaurant has been a long time coming and we know it’s something locals have eagerly been anticipating! The day has finally come and the news that we will also be the 100th store is the cherry on top.”

Building on the rapid growth being experienced by the brand, Taco Bell’s store count will officially go to 102 in the same week as the opening of its 100th restaurant with locations opening in Torquay and Hornchurch.