20 September 2022

Tortilla Mexican Grill plc
("Tortilla" or the "Group")

Tortilla publishes first ESG report

Report sets out the Group's sustainability commitments and its vision for the future

Tortilla Mexican Grill plc ("Tortilla"), the largest and most successful fast-casual Mexican restaurant group in the UK, is pleased to announce that it has published its first Environment Social Governance (ESG) report.

The report sets out the Group's sustainability commitments and five areas of focus for future initiatives, which are aligned to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), and the Group's ESG performance for the 2021 financial year and the first six months of 2022.

Tortilla's ESG strategy is based on three core pillars:

·    to reduce its impact on the environment;

·    to attract, develop and retain its people and core values; and

·    to enhance its positive impact on society and the communities where it operates

Highlights of Tortilla's progress in line with these focus areas include; maintaining zero waste to landfill status, procuring 100% renewable electricity and offsetting gas, turning all waste cooking oil into bio-diesel, launching a partnership with food waste organisation Too Good To Go with all raised funds going to ESG initiatives, launching a local burrito donations programme, driving wellbeing and career progression through the Tortilla apprenticeship scheme, and raising more than £37,000 for charity over the past year.

The Company's commitments include developing a net zero roadmap, verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), and implementing strategies to reach this; reducing waste; improving data capture across all staff and implementing further training initiatives to aid retention and support long-term career progression; and finally, to strengthen governance around ESG including through becoming ISO 27001 certified by 2023.

Richard Morris, Chief Executive Officer at Tortilla, commented:

"We are proud to be sharing our first ESG report, as we emerge from and continue to navigate what has been a very challenging period for many. The pandemic and the months since have shown the importance of building a business that is resilient and sustainable in its operations, and customers are expecting this from us now more than ever.

"The urgency of issues such as climate change and growing socio-economic challenges is clear, and our focus now is on our plans and commitments to reducing our impact on the environment while enhancing our positive impact on our communities and society as a whole. This will be a central part of our business operations moving forward, and I look forward to reporting on our progress in this area over the coming years."

Tortilla's first ESG report 2022 is available to read in full at: www.tortillagroup.co.uk/corporate-governance/

ENDS

ENQUIRIES

For further information, visit tortillagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Tortilla Mexican Grill plc

Tortilla is the largest and most successful fast-casual Mexican restaurant group in the UK specialising in the sale of freshly made Californian-inspired Mexican cuisine. The Group has 84 sites worldwide as of 3 July 2022, comprising 68 sites in the UK operated by the Group, four sites franchised to SSP Group in the UK, four sites franchised to Compass Group UK & Ireland and eight franchised sites in the Middle East.

The Group was founded in 2007 by Brandon Stephens, originally from California who, upon his arrival in London in 2003, found it difficult to satisfy his desire for quality burritos and tacos. As a result, Brandon established Tortilla with a mission of offering customers freshly prepared, customisable, and authentic Californian-inspired Mexican food.

The brand is synonymous with an energetic, vibrant culture, and with providing a great value-for-money proposition. It embraces fast-growing sector trends (including eating out, healthy eating, provenance, ethnic cuisine, delivery) across a variety of locations, through a differentiated product offering which is popular with a broad customer base, and a clearly defined multi-channel marketing strategy. It benefits from flexible site locations and formats, and a scalable central infrastructure.