Las Iguanas

Las Iguanas Ltd
Private company
Industry Casual dining
Genre Latin American
Founded 1991, Bristol, United Kingdom
Founders Eren Ali and Ajith Jaya-Wickrema
Headquarters Bristol, United Kingdom
Key people
  • Mos Shamel (MD)
Products Latin American foods from Brazil, Mexico and beyond
Website iguanas.co.uk

Las Iguanas is a casual dining restaurant chain originating from United Kingdom with a Latin American theme.[1] Founded in 1991, Las Iguanas operates 53 outlets in the United Kingdom as of 1 May 2018.[2] In 2003, the group acquired its own Cachaça sugar cane field and distillery on the Fazenda do Anil estate, outside Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.[3]

Las Iguanas specialises in Latin American food from Brazil, Mexico and beyond cooked from scratch.

History

The first Las Iguanas opened on St Nicholas Street, in Bristol in April 1991,[4] offering a diverse Latin American-themed menu. Since then, Las Iguanas have opened up a further 53 restaurants all across the UK including restaurants in Bath, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.[5]

One of the co-founders, Ajith Jaya-Wickrema, departed partnership with Las Iguanas in August 2009 in favour of creating his own Caribbean-themed restaurant chain named Turtle Bay.[6]

The first international branch of Las Iguanas was opened under franchise in Gibraltar in July 2018 [7]

Food

An example of food served in Las Iguanas - Xinxim

Las Iguanas menus include Latin American classics such as Nachos, Burritos, Xinxim, Fajitas and a wide range of Tapas with modern dishes such as Sirloin Steaks and Burgers. They include vegetarian and vegan options such as Veggie Chilli, Moqueca and Empanadas, furthermore, Gluten free options are available to cater for everyone. Las Iguanas are approved by The Vegetarian Society. [8] [9]

Las Iguanas Restaurant at Deansgate, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Recognition

Las Iguanas retained the Investors in People Gold award in 2015 and also holds IiP Champion status. Las Iguanas made it in the 2015 Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to work for, for the second time in three years after failing to make it in 2014. It celebrates UK companies with the highest levels of staff engagement.[10] Las Iguanas held a Glassdoor.co.uk rating of 4.3 and a 95% approval rating of MD Mos Shamel in October 2018. [11]

Las Iguanas won Best restaurant drinks offer at the Restaurant Magazine R200 Awards in October 2014[12]

Las Iguanas won the overall award at the National Burger Awards 2017 with the Buenos Aires Burger [13]

Las Iguanas won Best Non-traditional Cuban Sandwich and was runner up in World's Best Traditional Cuban Sandwich at the International Cuban Sandwich Festival in Tampa, Florida in April 2018 [14]

Controversy

Las Iguanas hit the headlines in August 2015 after their controversial tips policy was revealed. Staff had to pay back 3% of all sales (4.4% in London) to the company at the end of every shift out of their tips. Some staff had claimed that this charge was taken even when they had received no tips for some tables forcing them to 'pay to work'. Las Iguanas denied that the charge was ever taken from staff wages. Since then they had an internal vote amongst all the staff to agree a new policy.

100% of cash tips are now shared by the team. When tips or service charge are paid for by a credit card or debit card, the company take a 2.5% administration charge, before distributing the remainder to employees (passing on fees for opting to pay by credit or debit card to customers was banned in the UK in January 2018). Tips and service charges are in addition to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. In practice, this means for every £1 in tips given on a credit card, the company keeps 2.5p to cover credit card fees and administration costs. [15][16]

References

  1. ↑ "About Las Iguanas". Las Iguanas. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Las Iguanas Locations". Las Iguanas. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  3. ↑ "Allegra Restaurants Brand Portal - Las Iguanas - Overview". Allegra Restaurants. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Our History". Las Iguanas. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Las Iguanas - Locations". Las Iguanas. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Las Iguanas founder leaves for 'other opportunities'". Big Hospitality. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  7. ↑ http://iguanas.gi/
  8. ↑ "Las Iguanas - Book Now". Las Iguanas. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Vegsoc Approved". www.vegsocapproved.com.
  10. ↑ "Las Iguanas celebrate Sunday Times Top 100 ranking". Hospitality & Catering News. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  11. ↑ https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Overview/Working-at-Las-Iguanas-EI_IE524326.11,22.htm
  12. ↑ "Bills Wins Operator Of The Year at R200 Awards". BigHospitality. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  13. ↑ http://www.nationalburgerawards.co.uk/
  14. ↑ http://www.thecubansandwichfestival.com/
  15. ↑ "Las Iguanas". www.iguanas.co.uk.
  16. ↑ Bachelor, Lisa (22 August 2015). "Restaurants' tipping policy 'forces waiters to pay to work'". the Guardian.
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