A fast-growing restaurant operator rooted in North Devon is preparing to serve up a major UK expansion after securing significant new backing, with hundreds of jobs and dozens of new sites on the menu.
Bideford-headquartered franchise operator Campana has secured an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK to accelerate the rollout of Taco Bell restaurants across the country. The move places the North Devon town at the centre of an ambitious national growth strategy.
Campana, which is part of the SYMBRO Group, currently operates 23 Taco Bell locations across the south west, Wales and the Midlands. The newly secured funding will support the next phase of expansion, with six new sites set to open in the coming months.
The business plans to build on this by opening up to 12 restaurants a year, with a target of more than 50 Taco Bell locations across the UK by 2029. Future growth is expected to focus on the south west, Wales, and areas along the M4 and M5 corridors, as well as further expansion in and around the Midlands and into the north east.
The £20m investment programme is expected to create around 600 jobs while increasing revenue by between 50 and 60 per cent.
As part of the funding package, HSBC UK will also provide a revolving credit facility, allowing Campana flexible access to capital as it secures new sites and begins construction and fit-outs.
David Morgan, finance director at Campana, said: “Since opening our first Taco Bell six years ago, and with every additional new restaurant opening since, we have consistently seen strong demand for this much-loved brand, bringing craveable, Mexican-inspired flavours and unbeatable value to a new generation of UK consumers.
“SYMBRO Group is pleased to be partnering with HSBC UK again, with this latest funding enabling Campana to build on our momentum, expanding Taco Bell into new towns and cities across the UK.”
Paul Lane, relationship director at HSBC UK, added: “Campana has built a strong Taco Bell franchise business since opening its first location, and its ambitious rollout plans highlight the opportunity within the UK’s hospitality sector, despite ongoing pressures.
“The quick-service restaurant market continues to show resilience, with franchising offering a scalable and effective route to growth. Against this backdrop, the business’ clear expansion strategy and proven track record made a compelling case to support this significant funding package and its next phase of growth.”
Campana forms part of the wider SYMBRO Group, which owns and operates 60 quick-service restaurant franchises across the UK and the Netherlands, including Taco Bell, Subway and Starbucks.
