A new Mexican street food business is coming to Inverness city centre as the husband and wife team behind Ollie’s Pops prepare to open their second venture inside the Victorian Market.
Victoria and Bruce will open Ancho in the Market Food Hall on Thursday 1 October, serving birria, burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas and wraps.
The Inverness couple are already familiar faces in the Victorian Market through Ollie’s Pops, which began life as a mobile street food business.
They took their food to villages, events and festivals across the Highlands before establishing a permanent home in the Victorian Market.
Their new venture takes them in a completely different direction, with Ancho being developed as a separate business with its own menu, identity and personality.
The idea grew from the couple’s love of experimenting with flavours and a belief that Inverness had room for a quality Mexican street food offering.
Victoria and Bruce said:
“We’ve loved growing Ollie’s Pops in the Victorian Market, so when the opportunity came up to create something new here, we couldn’t resist.
“We’ve always loved playing with flavours and making food we’d want to eat ourselves, and ANCHO gives us a completely different direction to take that.
“Mexican street food felt like something Inverness was missing, but more importantly, it’s food we’re genuinely excited about.
“The people and atmosphere are a huge part of why we love being in the Victorian Market, and opening a second business here is a pretty big moment for us.
“Ollie’s Pops isn’t going anywhere, ANCHO is its new little sister, with its own menu, look and personality.
“We can’t wait to get the griddle hot and see what everyone thinks.”
Ancho will join the collection of independent food businesses already operating from the Victorian Market Food Hall.
The opening also represents another step in the growth of a Highland food business which has made the journey from serving customers on the road to running two permanent operations in the heart of Inverness.
Victorian Market Manager Cameron MacFarlane said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Victoria and Bruce to their second unit in the Victorian Market.
“Ollie’s Pops has been a fantastic success, and it’s brilliant to see them build on that and expand with a completely new concept.
“The Food Hall has become a real destination for food and drink in Inverness city centre, and seeing an existing trader have the confidence to invest and grow within the Market is a great reflection of its continued success.
“ANCHO will bring something completely new to the offering, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming them.”
Ancho will operate alongside Ollie’s Pops, with the original business remaining firmly in place while its new little sister fires up the griddle next month.
