Taco Bell recruits for Cork and Dublin outlets after opening first Irish restaurant

Ireland's first Taco Bell opened on Tuesday, with others to follow

Aaron Duggan, director of operations and food Applegreen, Nayana Melton, Taco Bell, Vaida Dekaminaviciute, Taco Bell, Ian Cranna, general manager Taco Bell Europe, officially open Ireland’s first Taco Bell, at Applegreen Dunshaughlin.

Applegreen is set to roll out branches of Taco Bell in Cork and Dublin after opening Ireland's first branch of the US restaurant in Dunshaughlin in Co Meath.

Applegreen announced in May that would open Ireland's first Taco Bell with further outlets to follow over the next five years. Cork and Dublin are being targeted, with Applegreen recruiting for Taco Bell staff in Ballincollig in Co Cork and in Lusk in Co Dublin. Applegreen has an existing outlet at Classes Lake in Ballincollig and at M1 Lusk South in Dublin.

On Tuesday, Applegreen opened the first Taco Bell as part of the new Dunshaughlin motorway service area at Junction 6 on the M3, which also includes outlets from M&S, Braeburn Coffee Café, Burger King, and Crafted, Applegreen’s deli offering.

“We’re delighted to bring Taco Bell to the Irish market, and to open our newest site in Ireland,” said Applegreen managing director Seamus Stapleton. 

The Dunshaughlin motorway service area is part of Applegreen’s €1bn plan to expand its business in Ireland, the UK, and the United States over the next five years. Applegreen opened its first service station in Ballyfermot in Dublin in 1992 and now operates almost 200 locations in the Irish market.

The Applegreen business currently employs about 16,000 people and has further plans for growth in all of its major markets. It had a turnover of almost €4bn last year and serves about 180m customers annually.

In the US, Applegreen has 181 sites, and more than 300 branded food outlets. It was recently awarded a 35-year contract to operate 18 highway service plazas in Massachusetts. In the UK, Applegreen’s Welcome Break business operates 60 sites, including 36 motorway service areas, and 31 hotels.

Applegreen is also planning an €85m investment to further expand its EV charging networks in Ireland, the UK, and the United States.