Posted:10-September-2025
KFC franchisee Gastronomy signs deal to more than double its KFC restaurant count by 2030
Long term KFC franchise partner Gastronomy has signed a deal to more than double the number of KFC restaurants over the next 5 years, adding more than 50 restaurants to its portfolio.
Backed by HSBC, Gastronomy will grow to over 100 KFC restaurants 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 and will be a mix of drive thrus and restaurants with parking to improve accessibility for customers across these regions.
Gastronomy opened its first KFC restaurant in Aberystwyth in 2007 and has since grown its portfolio to 44 KFC 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.
This follows the announcement in May that KFC was doubling down on its commitment to the UK and Ireland with a £1.5 billion growth plan, which will see KFC open a further 500 restaurants in the market over the next decade. This includes:
- Opening new restaurants across the UK&I, with a focus on building flagship sites and drive-thrus
- Upgrading existing restaurants with fresh new designs and the latest digital capabilities
- Creating over 7,000 new jobs over the next five years, including customer-facing jobs and kitchen-based roles cooking up KFC’s iconic chicken
- Strengthening KFC’s long-standing relationships with its 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 £3.1 billion. The market is only expected to grow further, with consumer demand for fried chicken outstripping other QSR categories.
In August, KFC reported UK & Ireland system sales growth of 5% year-on-year for the second quarter ending June 30, 2025, a rise of 5% on the quarter. The UK & Ireland accounts for 6% of KFC sales globally.
Acky Khan, CEO 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. It’s the best yet, and it’s the perfect moment to lean in. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to be strengthening our partnership with KFC and growing to 100 restaurants across the UK.
“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.”
Rob Swain, UK General Manager of KFC, added: “We’re hungry to grow our footprint across the UK & Ireland, and strong partnerships with our franchisees are our secret recipe. We’re proud to be continuing to grow our partnership with Gastronomy. Acky represents the very best of our franchisees: growth-focused, ambitious, and totally committed to KFC. His journey from one restaurant to over 40 – and now aiming for 100 – is the kind of ambition that fuels our brand.
“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 across the UK & Ireland.”
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