US chain selling 'healthy' Mexican plans European expansion

(Jason Lowe)

The organic fast food chain Chipotle Mexican Grill is set to conquer Europe with its brand of "healthy" food. It has hired the property agent Michael Peddar & Co to search for sites in London and the UK.

The US chain is listed and has 1,100 sites in the US and Canada. After a low key trial in London's Charing Cross last year, it is confident the chain will be a success.

It is also in talks to open restaurants in Paris and Munich.

In London, it has just signed up for its second site – a 50-cover restaurant in Baker Street, formerly a building society, on a site owned by the Labour peer Lord Paul.

Michael Peddar & Co is in the process of finding the next four to five sites for the chain this year.

Chipotle turns over $1.8bn (£1.1bn) a year and its first-quarter earnings rose 23 per cent.