Dan Houghton and Eric Partaker: Chilango

Dan Houghton, 33 and Eric Partaker, 35
Company: Chilango
Web: www.chilango.co.uk

Entrepreneurs Eric Partaker and Dan Houghton are confident that “Chilango is a global brand in the making” and it’s hard not to agree. The business was launched in 2007 with £4.5m from external investors providing the catalyst, and today comprises four Mexican fast-casual restaurants. It is now experiencing 40% like-for-like sales growth and has just won two Zagat awards for the No 1 Mexican Restaurant in London and the No 1 Best Buy – another important step on the way to fulfilling the aim of becoming a national chain in just a few years.