Long term KFC franchisee, Gastronomy, has signed a deal to more than double the number of KFC restaurants over the next five years, adding more than 50 to its portfolio.
Backed by HSBC, Gastronomy will grow to over 100 KFC’s across the UK by 2030. The new openings will focus on the North West, East and West Midlands, Shropshire and Wales where the brand sees the greatest growth potential. The outlets will be a mix of drive-thru sites and restaurants.
Gastronomy opened its first KFC restaurant in Aberystwyth in 2007 and has since grown its portfolio to 44 restaurants across Wales, the Midlands, the North West and Shropshire. It was recently recognised by The Sunday Times in its Best Places to Work list.
KFC’s £1.5bn growth plan
This follows the recent announcement by KFC that it was doubling down on its commitment to the UK and Ireland with a £1.5bn growth plan, which will see the brand open a further 500 restaurants in the market over the next decade.
KFC said it will focus on building flagship sites and drive-thru’s, upgrade existing restaurants with fresh new designs and the latest digital capabilities, and create over 7,000 new jobs over the next five years. KFC adds that it is strengthening its long-standing relationships with both British and Irish suppliers
The growth comes as the nation’s appetite for fried chicken continues to grow at pace. Research from KFC estimates that the UK fried chicken market is worth £3.1bn, and the market is expected to grow further, with consumer demand outstripping other quick service restaurant categories.
Acky Khan, chief executive of Gastronomy, said: “In all my 30 years with the brand, I’ve never been more excited to grow and invest in KFC. There’s a boldness in the marketing calendar, with new products that are driving real relevance with consumers and getting us noticed.
“The ambition within KFC is electric, and backed by a hugely supportive leadership team, we see lots of potential to unlock the next phase of our growth story. This investment is testament to the hard work of our people and will provide incredible opportunities for our team members to grow and develop long term careers with us.”
‘Our franchisees are our secret recipe’
Rob Swain, UK general manager of KFC, added: “We’re hungry to grow our footprint across the UK and Ireland, and strong partnerships with our franchisees are our secret recipe. We’re proud to be continuing to grow our partnership with Gastronomy.
“This is just one example of the momentum powering KFC right now – from our restaurant teams to our franchisees and leadership – we’re all fired up to grow the business, connect with the next generation of consumers, and bring our unbeatable chicken to even more people.”
Posted: 10th September, 2025