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International Football Star José Fonte and his business partner Andre Martin embark on a new venture with Zócalo UK Master Franchisees Pritesh and Shiv Amlani.

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Zócalo in Soho, London

London, September 2023 – International Football Star José Fonte is set to conquer a new field as he ventures into the culinary world with the grand opening of the first Zócalo franchise in the heart of London’s vibrant Soho district.

Inspired by the taquerias in San Francisco’s Mission District, Zócalo’s Fresh Happy Mex concept has won the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide since its inception in 2002. Known for serving Mexican food made from scratch with the finest, high-quality ingredients, Zócalo has become a household name across Sweden, Iceland, and Denmark. Now, with the support of football sensation José Fonte, the eagerly-awaited Zócalo franchise is ready to mark its territory in the UK and Ireland, starting with the much-anticipated launch in London’s Soho.

“We are delighted to have secured the Zócalo UK Master Franchise and to have signed up our first franchisees, José Fonte, and Andre Martins. We’re really looking forward to working with them both and excited to launch the Zocalo brand in the UK.” 

– UK Master Franchisees Pritesh and Shiv Amlani

Together, Fonte and Martins bring a dynamic synergy that promises to redefine the Mexican dining experience in the UK, presenting Zócalos’ authentic flavours and captivating ambiance to a whole new audience.

The much-anticipated opening date for Zócalo Soho is set for September, inviting food lovers and culinary enthusiasts alike to experience a true Mexican fiesta right in the heart of London.  With a menu that boasts high-quality burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and nachos, crafted to perfection from carefully selected ingredients, guests have the freedom to either indulge in one of the delectable set menu items, each available with a choice of protein, or they an unleash their culinary creativity and build their own unique Mexican feast.

“We are absolutely thrilled to embark on this exhilarating new venture. Joining forces with my partner, Andre Martins, we couldn’t be more excited to unveil the very first Zócalos franchise in the UK.” 

– José Fonte

“With over 6 years in hospitality, formerly at Roka and Zuma London, and since meeting José back in 2018, this partnership represents a true meeting of minds, blending our shared passion for culinary excellence and the vibrant spirit of Mexico. Furthermore, the pleasure of collaborating with UK Master Franchisees Pritesh and Shiv Amlani amplifies our excitement for this new opportunity. Their unwavering dedication and vision for success make them the perfect allies on this thrilling journey.”

– Andre Martins

Join international football star José Fonte and partner Andre Martins as they embark on this exciting new venture, bringing the vibrant and bold spirit of Zócalo Fresh Happy Mex to the heart of London’s Soho. Football fans and food lovers alike are invited to witness this extraordinary fusion of talents and flavours that is sure to make Zócalo Soho a sensation.

You can visit Zócalo in Soho at 21 Great Windmill St

For more information, please visit https://www.zocalorestaurant.co.uk or follow us on Instagram – @zocalosoho

Fresh Happy Mex by Zócalo at the franchise expo in new york

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Zócalo will be an exhibitor at the International Franchise Expo in New York City this weekend.  Come meet our founder and CEO Einar Örn Einarsson in booth 428.

The multi-award-winning Zócalo concept was inspired by the traditional taquerias and street food vendors of the Mission District in San Francisco. 

Our food philosophy is Fresh Happy Mex – Mexican food cooked from scratch and made with carefully selected ingredients. We opened our first restaurant in Iceland in 2002 and today there are 25 restaurants across Sweden, Iceland and Denmark.  We have master franchisees in Denmark and the UK along with Area developers, single and multi-unit franchises in Sweden.

We are expanding our franchise network, offering our unique and in-demand concept to ambitious entrepreneurs.

At Zócalo we serve high quality burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos and nachos. Our guests can either order a set item from the menu (with their selection of protein) or make their own unique meal.

Our restaurants have a fantastic, stylish and unique design, inspired by Mexico, California and our surroundings.  We use the latest ordering technology to make sure that our guests get their food as quickly as possible. We serve the right drinks and play the right music in our restaurants so that our guests get a completely unique Zócalo vibe, which sets us apart from other fast food restaurants.

At the in New York you will be able to meet our co-founder and CEO Einar Örn Einarsson to talk about franchise opportunities in the US.

Zócalo welcomes UK master franchisees

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Zócalo is set to launch in the UK after recruiting master franchisees, Pritesh Amlani and Shivum Amlani who will be responsible for the expansion of the brand across the country.

Shiv Amlani, Pritesh Amlani, Einar Örn Einarsson & Joachim Kilman

With 25 restaurants already located in Denmark, Sweden and Iceland, the team aim to build on their success and expand internationally to become one of the leading Mexican restaurant chains. The Zócalo concept combines fresh, quality and healthy Mexican food, allowing customers to tuck into a delicious range of guilt-free burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, burrito bowls and more.

Leading franchise specialists, Accentia Franchise Consultants facilitated the recruitment of Zócalo’s master franchisees. The full service franchise consultancy has over 40 years of experience in the industry and has supported 80 brands in establishing and developing effective franchise networks.

Pritesh and Shiv both have experience growing businesses from the ground up and have previously operated various franchise brands. They are both delighted to bring the Zócalo franchise over to the UK and develop a strong presence of successful restaurants across the country.

“We are delighted to have secured the Zócalo UK Master Franchise. Meeting the
founder and visiting the sites in Copenhagen as well as tasting the delicious Mexican food has indeed excited us to launch the Zócalo Fresh Happy Mex brand in the UK. We are looking forward to working closely with our regional and unit franchisees in the future.”

Pritesh & Shiv

Zócalo is well placed to be able to meet the surge in demand for healthier food alternatives, as well as provide vegetarian and vegan friendly options. Mexican food is perfect for vegetarian and vegan diets as traditional flavours and spices can enhance any dish and meat can be easily swapped out for plant based proteins. The cuisine also became the most popular Veganuary choice in the UK for the second year running.

“We at Zócalo are truly delighted to have found the perfect master franchisees for the UK. Zócalo is a modern and unique Mexican fresh food concept which we think will have a lot of success in the UK. We have multiple opportunities for regional,single and multi-unit franchises throughout the UK.”

Einar Örn Einarsson, CEO of Zócalo Restaurants

Owning a Zócalo franchise is a lucrative opportunity for any food entrepreneur looking to own a successful business with the support of a well-established brand and highly experienced team. All franchisees will receive initial training (product and sales training), access to personal development, a fully fitted premises, network-wide activities (ongoing training and conferences), marketing support and more.

Zócalo is seeking suitable entrepreneurs across the UK to own regional and unit franchise territories. Passionate, outgoing and driven individuals who have a passion for good food are encouraged to apply. Ideal franchisees will need to be able to demonstrate excellent customer service and business acumen.

The Zócalo team look forward to rolling out locations across the UK and beyond, establishing Zócalo as the go-to place for fresh, fast and tasty Mexican inspired food.

💻 Do you want to write about Zócalo? You can find photos and contact information on our news page

Zócalo is a multi-award-winning Mexican restaurant providing delicious, fresh and healthy Mexican food from burritos to quesadillas, nachos to tacos – there’s something for everyone. Guests can either choose from a set menu or create their own unique Zócalo meal and dine in a relaxed, bright and modern environment. Quality, honesty, openness and simplicity are at the heart of the Zócalo concept. Zócalo has acquired a number of awards including Tastemaker of the Year 2011 and Best Fast Food of the Year 2012 in Sweden.

Zócalo will be an exhibitor at franchise shows in Paris and London

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Zócalo Franchise will be an exhibitor at the Franchise Expo Paris on the 26th-29th of September and at the International Franchise Show show in London October 1st-2nd. 

The multi-award-winning Zócalo concept was inspired by the traditional taquerias and street food vendors of the Mission District in San Francisco. Our food philosophy is Fresh Happy Mex – Mexican food cooked from scratch and made with carefully selected ingredients. We opened our first restaurant in Iceland in 2002 and today there are 25 restaurants across Sweden, Iceland and Denmark.

We are expanding our franchise network, offering our unique and in-demand concept to
ambitious entrepreneurs.

At Zócalo we serve high quality burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos and nachos. Our guests can either order a set item from the menu (with their selection of protein) or make their own unique meal.

Our restaurants have a fantastic, stylish and unique design, inspired by Mexico, California and our surroundings.  We use the latest ordering technology to make sure that our guests get their food as quickly as possible. We serve the right drinks and play the right music in our restaurants so that our guests get a completely unique Zócalo vibe, which sets us apart from other fast food restaurants.

At the shows in Paris and London you will be able to meet our co-founder and CEO Einar Örn Einarsson to talk about franchise opportunities in France, the UK and other markets.

🌐 Learn all the Zócalo concept on our franchise website.

🎬 Watch our Franchise film

💻 Do you want to write about Zócalo? You can find photos and contact information on our news page

Zócalo is a multi-award-winning Mexican restaurant providing delicious, fresh and healthy Mexican food from burritos to quesadillas, nachos to tacos – there’s something for everyone. Guests can either choose from a set menu or create their own unique Zócalo meal and dine in a relaxed, bright and modern environment. Quality, honesty, openness and simplicity are at the heart of the Zócalo concept. Zócalo has acquired a number of awards including Tastemaker of the Year 2011 and Best Fast Food of the Year 2012 in Sweden.

Accentia Franchise Consultants announce UK launch of Mexican eatery franchise Zócalo

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Leading franchise consultancy support the multi-award-winning Zócalo with their franchise expansion into the UK market

Established in 2002, Zócalo has 15 restaurants located in Sweden and Denmark and aims to expand into additional European markets to maximise its presence. Of particular importance is its entry into the UK market, and Zócalo is seeking suitable entrepreneurs to boost its brand equity and market share.

In partnership with Accentia Franchise Consultants, Zócalo will be aided by over 40 years of experience in the franchise industry. Accentia Franchise Consultants has created hundreds of successful franchise networks throughout the UK across a variety of industries and sectors.

Britons’ appetite for Mexican food is apparent, Mexican food is the third most popular cuisine in the UK (Hello Fresh). There is an increased demand for healthier food options across the country, as dietary habits across the western world evolve, consumers are becoming more health conscious. As well as this, the number of vegetarians and vegans has grown year-on-year. Zócalo is well placed to be able to meet the surge in demand for healthier food alternatives, as well as provide vegetarian and vegan friendly meal options.

The Zócalo franchise opportunity is two-fold; master franchises and territory franchises are available to suit prospects’ business goals, budget and location. As part of the extensive franchise package franchisees will receive comprehensive training which will cover product and sales training, as well as a fully-fitted premise, product development, marketing materials and access to annual network conferences hosted in Sweden.

In year three, Zócalo single unit franchisees can be earning upwards of £120,000 annually. The franchise industry is a hugely lucrative industry and is the ideal pathway to success for Zócalo and its franchisees.

Accentia Franchise Consultants look forward to assisting Zócalo in its franchise expansion and are on track for recruiting Zócalo’s first UK franchisees.

About Zócalo

Zócalo is a multi-award-winning Mexican restaurant providing delicious, fresh and healthy Mexican food from burritos to quesadillas, nachos to tacos – there’s something for everyone. Guests can either choose from a set menu or create their own unique Zócalo meal and dine in a relaxed, bright and modern environment. Quality, honesty, openness and simplicity are at the heart of the Zócalo concept. Zócalo has acquired a number of awards including Tastemaker of the Year 2011, Best Fast Food of the Year 2012 and Street Food Restaurant of the Year 2018.

About Accentia Franchise Consultants

Accentia Franchise Consultants is a specialist franchise consultancy that creates lucrative franchise networks in the UK and beyond. We have offices located across the country and in the Middle East. Our goal is to boost client’s businesses through franchising, increasing their earning potential and value. Accentia are unique in the way they operate as they offer a full recruitment service where they identify, interview, and recruit potential franchisees on behalf of clients. Accentia have won numerous awards including Best Full Service Franchise Consultancy 2019, Silver Award Winner at the AFA 2020 Awards and the Global Advisory Experts 2021 winner.

Contact
Paul Mitchell
Group CEO
Accentia Franchise Consultants Limited
paul@accentia-franchise.co.uk
07444 970436

🌐 Learn all the Zócalo concept on our franchise website.

🎬 Watch our Franchise film

💻 Do you want to write about Zócalo? You can find photos and contact information on our news page

Zócalo is a multi-award-winning Mexican restaurant providing delicious, fresh and healthy Mexican
food from burritos to quesadillas, nachos to tacos – there’s something for everyone. Guests can
either choose from a set menu or create their own unique Zócalo meal and dine in a relaxed, bright and modern environment. Quality, honesty, openness and simplicity are at the heart of the Zócalo
concept. Zócalo has acquired a number of awards including Tastemaker of the Year 2011 and Best Fast Food of the Year 2012 in Sweden.

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