Irish forecourt and fuel retailer Applegreen is set to open Northern Ireland's first Taco Bell at its Lisburn North location on the M1 motorway in May, as part of a €1 billion upgrade and expansion programme spanning its operations across Ireland, the UK, and the United States.

RTÉ reported that the new outlet will operate seven days a week from 11am to 10pm, extending Applegreen's Taco Bell franchise network, which currently includes three locations in the Republic of Ireland, in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, Ballincollig, Co Cork, and Lusk, Co Dublin, as well as ten outlets at its Welcome Break business in the UK.

Applegreen operates across five locations in Northern Ireland, with its two largest sites positioned on the northern and southern sides of the M1 outside Lisburn, alongside locations in Templepatrick, Ballymena, and Hillsborough.

John Diviney, managing director of Applegreen UK, said: "We are really excited to announce this partnership to launch the iconic Taco Bell brand in Northern Ireland. Taco Bell has been a huge success on the island of Ireland since Applegreen launched its first outlet in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath last September."

Diviney added that Applegreen's core goal is to offer customers high-quality roadside hospitality by partnering with leading brands, and that the enhancements the company continuously makes to its business are designed to deliver an improved customer experience.

Applegreen employs approximately 17,000 people globally, operates almost 200 sites in the Republic of Ireland, and manages 61 service areas and 31 hotels in the UK through its Welcome Break business. The company recorded annual sales of €3.8 billion in 2024.

Get the full details on Applegreen's Taco Bell Northern Ireland launch here.