KFC unveils plans to invest £1.49bn in the UK and Ireland

KFC UK and Ireland has announced plans to invest £1.49bn and create over 7,000 new jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years.

Of the £1.49bn investment, £466m will go towards opening new restaurants focusing on building flagship sites and drive-thrus 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% of the KFC estate, with a new design and the latest digital capabilities.

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 £583m.

These new roles include customer-facing team member jobs, kitchen-based roles, restaurant managers and a newly created guest experience lead role tasked with improving the customer experience in the restaurant.

In addition to investing in restaurants and job creation, £404m of the investment will strengthen KFC’s long-standing relationships with its suppliers and help businesses across the UK&I continue to grow.

Rob Swain, general manager 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-£2bn 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.”

Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality CEO, added: “Hospitality’s ability to create places where people want to live, work and invest is unrivalled. This significant announcement from KFC is proof of that and will help to drive socially productive growth, deliver economically and support employment across the UK.”