Tortilla – record year for UK profitability, encouraging early trading from French business: Tortilla the UK’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant brand – has said it experienced a record year of profitability across its UK business in the 12 months to 28 December 2025, with total like‑for‑like sales up 6.2%, and group revenue up 8.5% to £73.8m. The business said that UK like-for-like momentum strengthened through the year: Q1 +5.9%, Q2 +4.2%, Q3 +6.9% and Q4 +7.8%. It reported “resilient” UK in-store like-for-like sales in Q4, up 3%, despite lapping strong in-store like-for-like sales of 4.8% in Q4 the prior year. The company said its franchise like-for-like revenue growth was up 4.5% in the UK, up 14.7% in the UAE and up 2.6% in France, with weekly sales records achieved across 13 franchise locations. It opened seven new franchise stores during the year; three in the UK and four in the UAE. It said that seven Fresh Burritos sites have now been converted successfully to Tortilla in France, including a flagship site at Gare du Nord in Paris, which opened last month. The company said: “Early trading performance from the first six converted stores has been encouraging, with the group’s strategic pricing reset – aimed to build brand awareness in a new market – driving an average uplift in the number of transactions post-conversion of 39% and in sales of 30%.” The business said that self‑ordering kiosks are now operational in 38 UK restaurants, with a further two planned for FY26. It said that all suitable sites will have kiosks by the end of Q1 FY26, highlighting the group’s “commitment to investment in technology”. The company said: “Adjusted Ebitda (pre‑IFRS 16) for FY25 is expected to be in line with management expectations, following a strong performance in Q4. Group adjusted net debt (pre‑IFRS 16) was £10.7m at period end, consistent with management expectations. During the year, the group successfully refinanced its debt facilities with Santander, supporting the next phase of growth. The group has had a positive start to the year, with the UK outperforming the market in each of the first three weeks of 2026. We continue to assume that pressure on UK employment could have a downward impact on the consumer economy this year. Cost headwinds seen in FY25 and those announced in the Autumn Budget will continue into FY26 therefore, in line with others in the sector, we will review our pricing. Supported by the success of our Winter menu, ongoing investment in food, brand and technology, and encouraging results from the converted French stores, the business is well positioned for the year ahead. The board remains confident that the outlook for FY26 will continue to show good improvement over FY25.” Andy Naylor, chief executive of Tortilla, said: “I’m happy to report that we finished 2025 positively, with a strong fourth quarter capping off a record year for UK profitability. It is testament to the hard work of the team that we were able to achieve UK Q4 like-for-like sales growth of 7.8%. Our in-store and delivery channels both exceeded the industry reported benchmark and this is particularly pleasing considering the strong prior year comparatives (Q4 2024 in-store like-for-like growth of 4.8%). Our food is better than ever and our work on brand and use of technology continue to yield a good impact. In France, it is great to see seven locations now branded as Tortilla and we are encouraged by the early signs of the performance uplift after conversion of 39% increase in transactions and 30% increase in sales. The investment in the team and central kitchen in this market gives us a strong platform to grow over the coming years and we are looking forward to converting the remaining strong locations acquired.”

Shepherd Neame CEO – government support will inject confidence back into the sector: Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Shepherd Neame, owner and operator of 285 pubs in Kent and the south east, has said the government’s support package around business rates will “inject confidence back into the sector” but the “most important thing is to reform the unfair methodology” behind the system. Yesterday, the government announced pubs will get a 15% cut to new business rates bills from April followed by a two-year real-terms freeze, as well as a review into the method used to value them for business rates. The review will be carried out by the government alongside businesses and valuation experts, ensuring that any decisions will be implemented for the 2029 revaluation. The chancellor also announced £10m of funding for the Hospitality Support Fund over three years – upped from £1.5m for one year announced last April – to support pubs across the UK. Neame said: “We welcome today’s announcement by the chancellor showing that the government has listened to the concerns raised by our sector. This comprehensive package provides certainty and a more stable platform for pubs for the next three years, at a time of intense cost pressure. This will inject confidence back into the sector and allow pubs to build their businesses going forward. The most important thing is to reform the unfair methodology used to calculate business rates and to make this level of support permanent from 2029, so that pubs can rely on a sustainable level of taxation and remain at the heart of their communities for many years to come.” William Robinson, managing director of the pubs division at north west brewer and retailer Robinsons, said: “I am pleased that the government has this afternoon announced a reduction in business rates which will benefit 75% of pubs. The Treasury has listened to publicans, MP’s, industry, media coverage, and the trade associations who we have worked closely with. Pubs such as ours are key social hubs within communities. Today’s announcement is a positive first step, and the government’s commitment to reform the methodology used to calculate business rates for the 2029 revaluation is critical. Robinsons will continue supporting our trade associations in their discussions with the Treasury and VOA to develop a fairer methodology. I appreciate this announcement does not affect Welsh Publicans and am certain that trade associations will be following this up and putting pressure on the Welsh Government to review their position.”

Boomers boozing more as young sober up: Pensioners are twice as likely to drink heavily as people in their twenties, NHS figures have revealed. The Times reports that the numbers, from the government-backed Health Survey for England, show that young people and increasing numbers of men are turning teetotal. But close to a third of those in early retirement, aged between 65 and 74, were drinking at “risky levels”, which is defined as more than six medium (175ml) glasses of wine a week. This was up from a fifth just two years earlier. This group is bucking the national trend. Nearly a quarter of adults across all age groups had not drunk alcohol in the past 12 months, the HSE study said, up from 19% in 2022. Researchers have said the figures could mark a “generational shift” in how alcohol “fits into people’s lives” in Britain. NHS guidelines recommend drinking no more than 14 units a week, equivalent to six 175ml glasses of wine or six average-strength pints of beer, and to spread that over three or more days. More than that is defined, in the health world at least, as “risky”. Those aged between 65 and 74 were almost twice as likely to drink at “risky” levels as those aged 25 to 35 were, the survey found. The data showed that 29% of the older age group are potentially risking their health with alcohol, compared with 14% of the younger group. The highest proportion of non-drinkers was found in the youngest age bracket, aged 16 to 24, with about a third abstaining completely, and young men were more likely to not drink than young women. Even with fewer drinkers among them, Britain’s young are still drinking more than their peers in many similar countries, experts warned. Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: “Research suggests that those who are choosing to cut back or stop drinking altogether are often doing so not just for health reasons, but because of deeper concerns about the world they’re growing up in, from economic insecurity to climate anxiety. This points to a generational shift in how alcohol fits into people’s lives, even if harmful drinking remains widespread among young people in the UK.” The data showed that more men (27%) than women (15%) drank more than 14 units per week.