Usman Ali and Auctor Group bring retail technology innovation firepower to Tortilla Mexican Grill

Restaurant brand Tortilla Mexican Grill has added Usman Ali to its board as a Non-Executive Director. The move comes as Auctor Group joins as a major shareholder.

Ali is Managing Partner at Auctor and Board Director at KAIKAKU.

In a LinkedIn post, Tortilla Mexican Grill said: "Usman and the Auctor team bring serious innovation firepower to the table, including their work with KAIKAKU, a pioneer in automation, AI, and cutting-edge restaurant tech."

"Tech is a key lever for our future growth. We’ve already introduced self-service kiosks and next-gen food prep equipment, and with Auctor’s backing, we’ll continue exploring automation, AI, and advanced efficiencies to level up the Tortilla experience."

Quilvest Capital Partners, a private equity firm that first invested in Tortilla in 2011, has sold its 20% stake to Auctor, a technology holding company, as part of the winding down of its fund. Consequently, Loeiz Lagadec, the Non-Executive Director who represented Quilvest's interest will step down from the Tortilla board.

Andy Naylor, CEO, at Tortilla, comments: "I am delighted to welcome Auctor as a new major shareholder in the company, and feel our strategies and experience are aligned to further drive our tech-enabled growth."

"Technology remains one of our 'Vital 5' strategic pillars. In 2024, we made good progress on this strategy, introducing self-service kiosks and new food-prep equipment that have driven a notable lift in operational efficiencies. With the backing and expertise of Auctor, we plan to keep trialling cutting-edge tech solutions that fuel both operational improvements and sustained customer growth."

Jennifer Roebuck, Co-founder and Advisor at Tortilla, says: "It’s a very exciting time in the hospitality industry. I’ve enjoyed spending more time with the team at Tortilla this year. Adding Auctor to the board is exactly the momentum we need to keep pushing the technology vision at Tortilla."

"We already have a talented CTO and a startup mindset. I’m a huge AI advocate - so we will make this business as productive and innovative as it can be while delivering some very exciting brand and customer experience initiatives."

RTIH AI in Retail Awards

RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries. 

As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers' businesses.

As AI sees increasing adoption in the retail space, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.

Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work - resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.

Winners willl be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 3rd July. This will kick off with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.

Please email our Editor, Scott Thompson, if you have any questions or need further information: scott.thompson@retailtechinnovationhub.com

FAQs

Is there a fee to enter the awards?: No, it is free of charge.

Can I enter across multiple categories: Yes.

Do I need to complete all the sections in the entry form? No, but the more information you provide, the better chance you have of producing a successful submission.

Is there a certain timeframe for nominated projects, initiatives etc? Yes, nominated projects, initiatives etc should have been completed (or substantially completed) during the last 12 months.

Who has visibility of our completed entry form and what information will be public should we win or be shortlisted? Only our Editor, Scott Thompson, and judging panel will view submissions. The information provided in the summary section of the entry form will be made public.

Do you only accept entries from UK-based companies? No, we accept entries from all parts of the world.

What is the shortlists process? Shortlists will be announced in April 2025, then shortlisted entries will be sent to our independent judging panel who will decide upon the winners and highly commended submissions. Shortlisted companies will be invited to attend an awards ceremony at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 3rd July 2o25.

Do winners and highly commended companies receive post-event coverage? Yes, post-event coverage includes articles on our website and also an in-depth awards review in our printed magazine. There is also the opportunity for a company profile type piece to be published on our site and within our magazine.

When is the deadline for 2025 submissions? Friday, 23rd May 2025.

When will the 2025 winners be revealed? Winners will be announced at an event at The Barbican in Central London on Thursday, 3rd July. This will kick off with a drinks reception, followed by a three course meal, awards ceremony, and after party featuring DJ until midnight.

Who will be judging submissions? Details of our 2025 judging panel will be announced in the near future.