KFC has announced plans to invest £1.49 bn and create over 7,000 new jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years.
KFC said its ambition was to become the fastest growing restaurant brand, with plans to open a further 500 restaurants over the next decade.
Of the £1.49 bn investment, £466 m will go towards opening new restaurants, focusing on building flagship sites and drive-throughs in key locations such as Ireland and North West England, where there is strong potential for growth. Part of this figure will also be spent on upgrading more than 200 existing KFC restaurants – 20 per cent of the KFC estate – with a fresh new design and the latest digital capabilities to help deliver a best-in-class experience for customers and team members.
Through its expansion, KFC will create over 7,000 new jobs within its UK&I business and across its supply chain over the next five years, an investment totalling £583 m.
In addition to investing in restaurants and job creation, £404 million of the £1.49 bn investment will strengthen KFC’s long-standing relationships with its suppliers including Pilgrim’s Europe.
Rob Swain, general manager of KFC UK & Ireland, said: “We’ve been serving customers in the UK for 60 years now, but we’ve never seen such strong demand for freshly prepared, fried chicken as we’re seeing today. As the market leader and a near-£2 billion revenue business, we’re incredibly well positioned to unlock this opportunity. That’s why we’re doubling down on our commitment to the UK&I with a major investment in our restaurants, and in the suppliers who have been so crucial to our success, which will create jobs in local communities across the country.”