Fast-casual pizza chain &pizza has acquired Tex‑Mex operator Tijuana Flats and established a new holding company, Latitude Food Group.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
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The purchase includes all 95 Tijuana Flats’ 95 corporate and franchised restaurants across the southeastern US, together with its headquarters in Maitland, Florida.
Led by &pizza CEO Mike Burns, the newly created holding company will manage and direct both &pizza and Tijuana Flats.
It will focus on growth via multi‑unit franchising and by working with entrepreneurs building multi‑brand portfolios.
Burns described &pizza and Tijuana Flats as a “natural fit”, saying: “From their innovative use of technology and bold design to their shared commitment to community and purpose, the alignment is clear. We’re excited to harness the unique strengths of both brands and apply proven strategies and efficiencies to build a strong foundation for future growth.”
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By GlobalDataIn 2025, &pizza launched its first franchising programme, setting an expansion target from 45 locations to 300 by 2030.
The chain also entered four franchise agreements to move beyond its mid‑Atlantic footprint into Orlando, Atlanta, Charleston and Raleigh.
Tijuana Flats, founded in 1995, operates close to 100 corporate and franchised sites across Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee and is known for made‑to‑order Tex‑Mex offerings prepared with fresh ingredients.
The brand filed for Chapter 11 protection in April 2024, was sold to Flatheads LLC — which closed 11 outlets and guided restructuring — and formally emerged from bankruptcy in January.
