Mexican food brand Mexi Bean Express is firing up its UK expansion with the signing of its very first franchise location. Peterborough-based entrepreneurs Manoj Kumar Maruthan and Mohamed Fayas Athambawa are bringing the fiesta home – pairing a great business investment with love at first bite.

“Here in Peterborough city centre, there are lots of food options, but we noticed there wasn’t much in the way of good Mexican food,” said Manoj. “We saw that as a great opportunity. We really liked the Mexi Bean Express menu and concept – that’s what drew us in and made us feel confident about taking on the franchise.”

Between them, Manoj and Fayas bring a powerhouse of experience to the table. Manoj, who’s spent nearly two decades working in cybersecurity and cloud architecture, is swapping tech for tacos to focus full time on running the new site. His business partner, Fayas, brings valuable retail know-how from years managing his own successful convenience store.

With the lease signed and the fit-out already underway at 41 Bridge Street, the Peterborough restaurant is taking shape fast. The duo is aiming to open before the end of the year, ready to serve up the brand’s signature menu of burritos, tacos, nachos and quesadillas – all made fresh, fast and 100% halal.

Their opening marks a huge milestone for Mexi Bean Express, which has grown from a single restaurant in Yorkshire to a thriving multi-site brand loved for its bold flavours, vibrant personality and quick-serve convenience. Born in the North and built on authentic Mexican recipes with a modern twist, Mexi Bean Express is all about bringing fresh, flavourful food to people who like a little extra kick.

For founder Danielle Best, this first franchise signing is a landmark moment: “We’ve built something special in Yorkshire, and it’s amazing to see it catching fire beyond our home turf. Manoj and Fayas have that perfect mix of energy, ambition and community spirit – exactly what we look for in our franchisees. Peterborough’s about to get a taste of Mexi Bean Express magic, and this is only the beginning of our mission to bring fresh Mexican flavour to every corner of the UK and beyond.”

For Manoj, Fayas and the crew, this is where true partnership begins:

“It’s a proud moment to be part of the Mexi Bean Express franchise journey – and even more special knowing we’re the first of many franchisees to come. We’re ready to tempt the tastebuds of Peterborough and build our Mexi Bean Express cartel.”