Why California Tortilla Prioritizes Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Products in the Fast Casual Space

California Tortilla is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant franchise known for its re-imagined 'California-style' Mexican food. Founded in Bethesda, Maryland, California Tortilla's signature, made-to-order menu is all made in-house from fresh, never-frozen ingredients, delivering a chef-driven selection of bold and exciting flavor profiles at all 45 of its locations.

Since getting started in 1995, California Tortilla has been committed to reducing the brand’s ecological footprint by prioritizing the use of products that are 100% compostable and produced to minimize the impact on the environment. More and more, sustainability is on the minds of consumers within the QSR and fast casual segment.

“A core value at Cal Tort is integrity and doing the right thing,” said Bernadette Brandt, Marketing Manager at California Tortilla. “We are committed to preserving the environment, especially if that provides us the opportunity to incorporate fresh ingredients on our menu. ”

Eco Friendly Products

Unlike competitors, California Tortilla doesn’t sacrifice quality for speed, creating a truly convenient and delicious way to grab a flavorful bite that also appeals to the millennial-driven preference for easy and healthy food. In addition to environmentally-conscious food options, it also has increasingly become important for brands to take advantage of sustainable packaging .

According to Brandt, there are many ways that Cal Tort prioritizes this eco-friendly model within its product line . For example, all napkins at the restaurants are made from 100% sugarcane fibers, which biodegrade faster than paper. For soup and side cups, the packaging is made with all-natural plant-based and renewable resources. This green focus is also applied to plates and bowls, which are made from all-natural agricultural by-products, as well as bags, which are 100% recyclable and made from 40% recycled content.

“Cal Tort engages in a continuous sourcing process that involves testing new products as they become available and evaluating existing products as they become more affordable,” said Keith Goldman, COO at California Tortilla. “The process is a balancing act between finding a product that is eco-friendly and transports our product well for the customer without compromising on quality and ensuring that we are continuing to optimize franchisee profitability.”

Fast Casual Leadership

In the restaurant industry, fast casual is the top-performing sector , and the Mexican food segment is its top-performing subcategory. Through this emphasis on high-quality, fresh menu items and sustainable packaging, Cal Tort is emerging as a leader in this lucrative segment that exists at the intersection of these consumer preferences .

“We live in a world where customers are more educated than ever when it comes to fresh ingredients and healthy eating,” Goldman said. “At California Tortilla, we create and message our menus and packaging in a way that is impactful and meaningful to customers.”

California Tortilla hopes to continue building a family of franchisees committed to delivering a sustainable experience to their local communities. As Cal Tort evolves its business model, the brand is seeking passionate, creative entrepreneurs with restaurant experience to join its ever-growing system and help the brand share what makes it special—including its sustainable packaging, made-to-order menu and always-fresh ingredients— in prime markets across the country .