US actor Danny Trejo’s taco brand launches £625,000 UK crowdfund

Trejo’s Tacos, the restaurant brand backed by US actor Danny Trejo, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support its expansion in the UK.

Jerome Armit and Sean O’Kelly, the UK license holders for the brand, are aiming to raise £625,000 on Crowdcube to open further restaurants.

The team launched the first Trejo’s Tacos in the UK in London’s Notting Hill last year and said it had turned over more than £1m in the last 12 months.

The Crowdcube campaign is part of a wider fundraise, with £600,000 already secured from investors including Slim Chickens founder Tom Gordon and Julian Mylchreest, executive vice chairman of Bank of America.

At the time of writing, the page had reached 99% of its target from 60 investors.

The Crowdcube page said the brand was also exploring a partnership with Live Nation UK for events and festivals.

The Crowdcube page reads: “The UK’s fast-casual dining scene struggles to offer authentic yet accessible Mexican cuisine that caters to evolving dietary preferences. As demand for fresh, inclusive options grows, scalability within the UK’s competitive fast-casual food space remains a significant challenge.

“We introduce ’Cal-Mex’ cuisine—a fresh take on Mexican flavors with a Californian twist. Our diverse menu meets a variety of dietary needs. Backed by Danny Trejo and licensed in the UK, we aim to expand their global reach.”

Armit is the founder of JA Hospitality Consulting and a former chief operating officer at hospitality group Truffle Hunting, while O’Kelly has a background in the film and television industry.

Trejo’s Tacos was founded in California and has four locations in Los Angeles and one site in the city under its sister brand Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts.

View the Trejos Tacos crowdfunding page here.