24 August 2023

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

Appointment of Non-Executive Director

Tortilla Mexican Grill plc ("Tortilla"), the largest and most successful fast-casual Mexican restaurant group in the UK, is pleased to announce the appointment of Keith Down to its Board as a Non-Executive Director, with effect from today (24 August 2023).

Keith brings a wealth of leadership experience gained across a broad range of consumer-focused businesses. He has held senior positions at companies operating across a wide range of sectors including retail, leisure, and hospitality. He was previously Finance Director and Company Secretary at JD Wetherspoon plc, Group Finance Director at Go-Ahead plc, Chief Financial Officer at Dunelm plc and, most recently, Finance Director of Selfridges Group. He is currently the Senior Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair of Topps Tiles plc.

Keith will take on the role of Tortilla's Senior Independent Director (SID) and he will become Chair of the Audit Committee. 

Emma Woods, Chair of Tortilla, commented:

"We are delighted to welcome Keith to the Board of Tortilla. Keith has a huge amount of highly relevant experience from several very successful consumer-facing businesses. I have no doubt that the Board will benefit from his skills and insights as Tortilla continues to deliver against its long-term growth strategy."

Keith Down added:

"I am very excited to be joining the Board of Tortilla. The Group has a differentiated and highly compelling customer proposition and very exciting opportunities to further expand both across the UK and internationally. I am looking forward to working alongside the rest of the Board to support the Group's future successes."

The following additional information is provided in accordance with Rule 17 and paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules for Companies.

Keith Down (aged 58) directorships in the last five years are as follows: 

Current directorships and partnerships: 

·      Topps Tiles PLC (formerly known as Tabledouble Limited)

Past directorships and partnerships held within the last 5 years: 

·      St. Clair BV

·      Whistler Sevco Limited

·      Whistler Newco 1 Limited

·      Whistler Newco 2 Limited

·      Whistler Newco 3 Limited

·      Whistler Newco 4 Limited

·      Whistler Newco 5 Limited

·    Selfridges Holdings Limited (formerly known as Oxford Acquisitions Limited and Mawlaw 599 Limited)

·      Brown Thomas Arnotts Limited

·      Brown Thomas Arnotts Holdings Limited

·      Eataly Retail UK Limited

·     Selfridges & Co. Limited (formerly known as Selfridges Plc and Capitalboost Public Limited Company)

·      Selfridges Financing Limited

·      Selfridges Manchester Limited

·      Selfridges Properties Limited (formerly known as Mawlaw 610 Limited)

·      SFP Holdings Limited

·   Shel Holdings Europe Limited (formerly known as Selfridges Holdings Europe Limited and SGL Holdings Europe Limited)

·    SREL Retail Europe Limited (formerly known as Selfridges Retail Europe Limited, Selfridges Retail Europe Limited and SGL Retail Europe Limited)

·      Selfridges Worldwide Deliveries Limited

·      Arnotts Limited

·      Arhl Retail Holdings Limited

·      101 Whichmore Properties Limited

·      103 Whichmore Properties Limited

·      105 Whichmore Properties Limited

·      39 Dukeson Properties Limited

·      Duke Street Property Limited (formerly known as Packington Place Properties Limited)

·      31 - 37 Dukeson Properties Limited

·      Dupict Properties Limited (formerly known as Selfridges Developments Limited)

·      39 Scotland Limited (formerly known as Srl Scotland Limited)

·      Dew Properties Limited

·      Duke Street Properties Limited

·      Own Properties Limited

·      Picton Place Properties Limited

·      SGL Properties UK Limited

·      WS International Limited

Keith Down does not currently own any securities in the Company.  

There are no further disclosures required in accordance with Rule 17 or Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies. 

ENQUIRIES

For further information, visit tortillagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS 

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. As at 1 January 2023, the Group had 82 sites worldwide, comprising 65 sites in the UK operated by the Group, 4 sites franchised to SSP Group in the UK, 5 sites franchised to Compass Group UK & Ireland and 8 franchised sites in the Middle East. 

The Group was founded in 2007 by Brandon Stephens, originally from California who arrived in London in 2003 to find a gap in the market 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 Tortilla and Chilango brands are synonymous with an energetic, vibrant culture, and with providing a great value-for-money proposition. They embrace 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.