Toscano serves up second Edinburgh site

An Edinburgh food business run by a young brother-and-sister team has opened a second “ultimate flagship” site following a successful first year of trading.

Toscano, which specialises in Tuscan schiacciata flatbread sandwiches, has opened a new city centre flagship on Blair Street after building a strong following at its debut Bruntsfield shop.

The independent brand is run day-to-day by siblings Yaya, 19, and Valentino, 17, who left school early to join his sister in the business full-time.

Born and raised in Edinburgh, the pair have set a target of opening five shops across the city by the end of 2026.

Their menu focuses on Tuscan-style sandwiches made with premium ingredients, reflecting the family’s Scottish Italian heritage.

Yaya said: “Bruntsfield is such a fantastic start for us, but Blair Street is going to be our ultimate flagship. 

“We cannot wait to welcome thousands of tourists and locals to try our authentic schiacciata.”

The Blair Street opening gives Toscano a more central presence and is expected to introduce the brand to more tourists and city centre customers.

The business has also acquired the former Rudi’s Sandwich Shop on Forrest Road, an Edinburgh institution dating back to the early 1990s.

The site will become Toscanino, a fast grab-and-go concept aimed at students, school pupils and local residents, offering ready-made schiacciata sandwiches, self-service kiosks and the option to mix and match fillings.

Yaya says further locations are already under consideration as the family continues to grow the brand.

She added: “We’re so proud to bring our multi-culturised Scottish Italian heritage to the heart of the city's tourism, and overcoming our recent family health setbacks has only made us more determined to make this a massive success.”

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.