KFC to open 300 new UK and Ireland restaurants by 2027

KFC has opened its 1000th restaurant in the UK and Ireland and revealed plans to launch a further 300 sites over the next five years.

The fried chicken chain has opened 160 restaurants across both countries since 2017 and expects to launch 50 new locations in 2022, creating 1,500 jobs.

KFC said its expansion was backed up by a major investment in its staff. It employs 27,000 people in the UK and Ireland and has trained over 15,000 team members in 2021 and nearly 1,100 young people have joined its apprenticeship programme.

The group's growth has also been fuelled by its franchise model. It works with 33 different franchisees in the UK and Ireland, which have made both countries one of the restaurant chain's fastest growing markets outside China and the United States.

Paula MacKenzie, general manager, KFC UK and Ireland, said: "We've been on a transformation journey over the last five years to become a more connected and vibrant business. Reaching 1,000 restaurants is a testament to our growth and commitment to serving delicious fried chicken up and down the country.

"From Dundee to Newquay, we're in more communities than ever before. We know the role restaurants like ours play in employment levels and up-skilling the next generation. We want to be good business and a good neighbour and are committed to ensuring this remains the case as our growth continues with greater investment in our people and in our communities."

The company's future plans include a goal of removing 20% of calories per serving from its menu items by 2025.

KFC was founded by Colonel Harland Saunders in Utah in 1952.