Zambrero has announced the appointment of development agents, James Fleck, Michelle Jelfs and Sarah Preston, to spearhead expansion in the West Midlands and South West territories.
The team will be responsible for Franchise Partner recruitment in the two regions, with plans to open over 20 restaurants within the next three years, creating around 300 jobs, including full and part-time roles. Development will focus on larger towns and cities with initial efforts to secure locations in high footfall areas on high streets, large shopping centres, retail parks and roadside destinations.
Target areas in the West Midlands will include Birmingham, Cheltenham, Coventry, Solihull and Worcester, while target areas in the South West include Bath, Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter and Taunton.
Alongside recruitment of industry-leading franchise partners, the Development Agent team will also assist with location acquisition, operational support, brand integrity, regional marketing activation and business strategy.
Fleck, Jelfs and Preston bring over 50 years of combined franchising expertise, having worked together to drive growth in the West Midlands region for one of the world’s leading quick-service restaurant brands. In their former roles, they successfully delivered a long-term and sustainable territory growth plan, building and supporting a strong franchise network. Their proven track record spans recruiting high-performing franchise partners, providing strong operational support, securing prime property deals and successfully launching new restaurants. Together, they have recruited over 100 franchise partners and opened more than 120 restaurants – experience that makes them ideally placed to lead Zambrero’s expansion in the West Midlands and South West territories.
The new appointment supports the modern Mexican restaurant group’s plans to open 100 restaurants nationwide by 2030 through strategic franchise partnerships. The Development Agent team is now looking for Franchise Partners who align with Zambrero’s mission and brand standards to open new restaurants in the two regions.
Fleck, Zambrero development agent for the West Midlands and South West, said: “We’re incredibly excited to join the Zam Fam at such a pivotal stage in the brand’s growth. Having worked within the hospitality industry for many years, it is clear to me that Zambrero truly stands out – from its fresh, high-quality Mexican food and modern restaurant design, to its positive culture and clear sense of purpose. What really inspires us is the Plate 4 Plate initiative, which goes far beyond being a brand differentiator; it’s a mission we feel personally connected to, and we’re proud to be a part of a business that gives back. When we consider all these things, we really think we’ve hit on something special. As we keep telling everyone we speak to, there’s just something about Zambrero.”
At the heart of Zambrero is its hugely successful ‘Plate 4 Plate’ humanitarian initiative. Every time a burrito or bowl is purchased at any of its restaurants, Zambrero sends a nutritious meal to someone in need in the developing world via its distribution partner, Rise Against Hunger℠. With the help of its customers around the world, the initiative has now donated over 100 million meals in the developing world. The combination of delicious freshly prepared food and giving back is why Zambrero call themselves Feel Good Mex.
Fleck continued: “We’re actively seeking passionate, committed and like-minded Franchise Partners to join us in expanding Zambrero across the West Midlands and South West. This is a unique opportunity for both new and experienced Franchise Partners – whether that be single-site owners, multi-site owners or corporate partners – to join a fast-growing global brand at an early stage. For ambitious entrepreneurs ready to lead the way, now is the time to join us on this exciting journey.”
Since its 2021 launch in London, Zambrero now has 14 restaurants across the UK, located in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Reading, Essex and Glasgow.
Zambrero UK is headed by CEO, Emily Teh, who said: “We’re delighted to welcome James, Michelle and Sarah to the Zam Fam and are excited about the role their experience will play in accelerating our growth across the West Midlands and South West. Their appointment represents a significant step forward in our UK expansion strategy, and we’re looking forward to introducing Zambrero to even more people across the two regions. We’ve seen the success of our regional Development Agent model in other markets, including Australia and Ireland, where we lead the Mexican QSR category, and we’re confident this proven approach will enable the team to replicate that success here in the UK.”
With more than 20 years’ experience running restaurants, Zambrero has grown into a global brand through its successful franchise programmes, with over 350 restaurants in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. It is also the largest Mexican restaurant franchise in both Australia and Ireland.
Zambrero serves a modern take on Mexican favourites with a focus on fresh ingredients, specially crafted marinades and flavour-packed sauces for customers to tailor to their own taste. Famous for its burritos and bowls, it also offers tacos, nachos and quesadillas, as well as vegetarian, vegan and Halal menu options.
The new development agent team will be at the International Franchise Show on 17th and 18th April at ExCel London, alongside the wider Zambrero UK Development team.
For more information about Zambrero UK, including its franchise programme, visit: https://www.zambrero.co.uk/
