Taco Bell to open first Cork store next month

Applegreen is to open a new Taco Bell in Ballincollig before the end of the year, the company has announced.

Two new Taco Bell restaurants will be opened in Ireland in the coming weeks, including one at Lusk Northbound on the M1 in Dublin, creating 60 new jobs.

Applegreen is embarking on a major refurbishment of both locations and will also add new M&S Food shop-in-shop outlets and new Crafted Kitchen & Deli operations at each site.

The upgrades are part of Applegreen’s €50 million plus investment plan in the Irish market for this year.

Seamus Stapleton, Managing Director of Applegreen’s Republic of Ireland business said: “We’re delighted to transform our existing sites at Lusk Northbound on the M1 and at Ballincollig in Cork with these new brands and significant in-store enhancements.

“Our goal is to offer our customers passionate roadside hospitality by partnering with brands such as Taco Bell and Marks & Spencer, as well as enhancing our own brand offering. These enhancements are sure to delight our customers and provide an even better experience.” 

Applegreen opened Ireland’s first Taco Bell restaurant at Dunshaughlin in Co Meath in mid-September and has plans to add further outlets across its Irish portfolio as part of a partnership with the US-based company.

M&S Food Store to open

The company is also continuing to expand its highly successful partnership with M&S Food. With these two new upgrades, Applegreen customers at both Lusk North and Ballincollig will now have access to more than 400 M&S products available in-store, including fresh flowers, convenient and tasty lunch and dinner options, sandwiches, and fresh fruit and salads.

Both Applegreen outlets will also feature a new Click & Collect service for M&S Clothing and selected Home product ranges. With these new stores, Applegreen will now have 35 M&S Food shop-in-shop outlets and has plans to grow this number to more than 60 outlets in the medium term.

Mr Stapleton said: “Applegreen’s growing partnership with M&S supports our leading customer proposition in the Irish market and we are excited to continue investing in this first to market offer.” Applegreen is also investing it is own branded offers at both Lusk North and Ballincollig. The new Crafted Kitchen & Deli will feature a range of new products and also existing customer favourites, such as chicken fillet rolls and breakfast rolls.