SpudBros, the viral baked potato brand known for its TikTok fame, opened its first Scottish Express store in Edinburgh on July 15, 2026, offering free potatoes to the first 100 customers. Located at 126 Lothian Road, the doors opened at 12pm, with eager fans queuing since early morning.
Free Spuds and Expansion Plans
To celebrate the launch, the first 100 customers received a complimentary jacket potato. The Edinburgh Express store is the first of several planned openings across Scotland, part of a wider expansion in partnership with Taster and franchise Sur Group, which also operates Black Sheep Coffee.
Menu Highlights
The menu includes cult favorites like the Tram Classic, loaded with garlic butter, three-cheese mix, baked beans, crispy onions, and Tram Sauce, and the Spudfather with chilli con carne, tuna coleslaw, and bolognese. Customers can also build their own loaded potato with fresh toppings. The store is open seven days a week from 11am to 8pm.
Industry and Founder Reactions
Suhail Rehman, Chairman of SUR Group, said: "SpudBros Express is one of the most exciting emerging food brands we've seen in recent years. The business has built incredible momentum through a combination of simplicity, quality and genuine customer engagement." Tariq Din, Business Development Director, added: "Scotland has a thriving food scene and Edinburgh felt like the natural place to introduce SpudBros Express."
Jacob Nelson, co-founder of SpudBros, said: "We're really excited to be bringing SpudBros Express to Scotland for the first time. We've had so many messages from people asking us to open in Edinburgh." Bertrand Peyrat, CEO at Taster, commented: "This partnership marks another major milestone in the growth of SpudBros Express across the UK."
Brand History and Social Media Success
SpudBros originated in 1955 when founder Ernie Rhodes set up a hot potato cart at Preston Flag Market. The business passed through the family, with brothers Jacob and Harley Nelson taking over in 2020. They gained fame on TikTok, building a community of over eight million spud lovers. The brand has been covered by The Guardian, BBC Breakfast, and The Times, and was voted "No.1 TikTok food" in Sidemen's viral taste test. Celebrities like Will Smith, Liam Neeson, Alex Warren, and Joe Jonas are fans.
