Applegreen is bringing Taco Bell to Ireland this summer

The first fast-food outlet will open this summer, and Applegreen has plans to open Taco Bell outlets at a number of its Irish locations over the next five years.

“We are really excited to announce this partnership to launch the iconic Taco Bell brand in Ireland,” said Seamus Stapleton, Managing Director of Applegreen’s Republic of Ireland business.

“This partnership underscores our commitment to bringing world-class roadside hospitality to our customers, offering them greater choice and quality while they travel.  

“We are constantly investing in our locations, and I’m sure Irish consumers will be very excited at the arrival of Taco Bell.”

Taco Bell, which is based in Irvine, California, has over 8,700 restaurants worldwide.

Known for its craveable and bold Mexican-inspired flavours, Taco Bell’s menu offers a variety of delicious products and unique tastes.

Consumer favourites include the famous Crunchy Taco plus Burritos, Quesadillas, Nachos, and the iconic Crunchwrap Supreme™.

Matthew Johnson, New Market Lead for Taco Bell Europe s,aid: “We are thrilled to bring Taco Bell’s innovative and flavourful menu to Ireland.

“This expansion is a testament to our commitment to growing our brand globally and delivering exceptional dining experiences to new markets.”

“We believe that our unique offering will resonate with consumers in Ireland, providing a new and exciting dining option that celebrates bold flavours and a fun, vibrant atmosphere.”

Applegreen has also recently introduced Taco Bell restaurants at several of its Welcome Break motorway service areas in the UK.

The move to bring Taco Bell to Ireland is part of Applegreen’s €1bn expansion programme over the next five years.

The company plans to grow its business in Ireland, the UK and the United States, as it redevelops existing sites and adds new locations in each of its three markets.

Applegreen is one of Ireland’s leading retail brands.

It opened its first service station in Ballyfermot in Dublin in 1992 and now operates almost 200 locations in the Irish market.

The company typically invests more than €30m every year in the Irish market on new store openings, upgrades, and improvements. 

It has a significant business overseas, with operations in Britain and the United States, and a total of more than 430 locations and more than 700 branded food offers across its global network. 

The Applegreen business currently employs about 16,000 people and has further plans for growth in all of its major markets.

It had a turnover of almost €4bn last year and serves about 180 million customers annually.

The company’s expansion plans are focused on acquiring and developing new sites in the markets in which it already operates, as well as upgrading and rebranding its existing locations.

In the UK, Applegreen’s Welcome Break business operates 60 sites, including 36 motorway service areas and 31 hotels.

In the US, Applegreen has 181 sites and more than 300 branded food outlets.

It is also planning a major €85m investment to further expand its EV charging networks.

* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.