Modern Mexican QSR brand Zambrero has appointed Sumin Lohani as Development Agent for Hampshire, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight, as part of its wider UK expansion strategy.
Lohani will lead franchise partner recruitment and regional growth, with plans to open up to 30 restaurants by 2030, around 20 across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and 10 in Berkshire. The expansion is expected to generate approximately 450 jobs.
Initial site development will focus on high-footfall locations including high streets, shopping centres, retail parks and university hubs. Key target cities include Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Winchester and Reading, alongside additional sites across Berkshire and the Isle of Wight.
A multi-unit franchise operator, Lohani joined Zambrero as a franchise partner in 2025, taking over an existing Reading location. He is set to open his second outlet at Festival Place in Basingstoke in late May. He also operates within Yo! Sushi and owns The Compasses Inn in Hampshire.
Sumin Lohani, said: “Having worked with the brand as a Franchise Partner for many months, I believe it has great growth potential here in the UK. This is a unique opportunity for both new and experienced Franchise Partners, whether that be single-site owners, multi-site owners or corporate partners, to join a fast-growing global brand. For ambitious entrepreneurs ready for growth, there has never been a more exciting time to get involved.”
The appointment supports Zambrero’s ambition to scale to 100 UK restaurants by 2030 through a franchise-led model. The brand currently operates 14 UK locations, with additional openings planned, including a site in St Paul’s.
Zambrero UK is headed by CEO, Emily Teh, who shared: “Sumin joined the Zam Fam as a Franchise Partner at the very inception of our franchise model here in the UK. I’m delighted to see him take the reins as a Development Agent, and use his existing Zambrero experience, along with his extensive franchising knowledge, to introduce Zambrero to even more people across the region. Our regional Development Agent model has delivered strong results in markets including Australia and Ireland, where Zambrero leads the Mexican QSR category, and we’re confident this proven approach will drive the same success here in the UK.”
Founded in 2005 in Canberra by Sam Prince, Zambrero operates more than 350 restaurants globally across Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US. The brand is also known for its “Plate 4 Plate” initiative, through which it has donated over 100 million meals in partnership with Rise Against Hunger.
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