KFC to Open 500 New Outlets and Create 7,000 Jobs in Massive £1.49bn UK and Ireland Expansion
Fast food giant KFC is launching one of its biggest growth spurts yet, pledging to open 500 new restaurants and generate 7,000 jobs across the UK and Ireland. The staggering £1.49 billion investment marks a major move to take on rivals like Popeyes and Wingstop as competition heats up.
A £466 Million Restaurant Boom
Out of the total pot, £466 million will go towards opening 500 new KFC locations, with a sharp focus on Ireland and the North West of England. This expansion targets areas that have been underserved, bringing KFC’s famous fried chicken closer to more fans than ever before.
But it’s not just new outlets — nearly 200 existing stores, almost a fifth of KFC’s current UK and Ireland sites, will get a full makeover. Expect sleek new designs and advanced digital ordering systems to speed up your meal.
7,000 New Jobs up for Grabs
KFC’s expansion means 7,000 fresh job opportunities will hit the market, including:
- Restaurant managers
- Kitchen staff
- Dedicated “guest experience” team members to boost customer satisfaction
Supply Chain Gets a Major Boost
The investment also reinforces KFC’s supply chain with extra funding for essential ingredients sourced in the UK, including:
- Fresh UK-sourced chicken
- Gravy production
- Salad ingredients
“Unprecedented Demand,” Says KFC Boss
Rob Swain, General Manager of KFC UK and Ireland, commented:
“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. This investment is about meeting that demand while doubling down on our commitment to communities and employees across the UK and Ireland.”
KFC currently runs over 1,000 restaurants and employs roughly 30,000 staff across the UK and Ireland, making this expansion one of the biggest in its history.
