Posted:12-October-2026
KFC franchisee The Adil Group acquires 22 restaurants from First Rate as it plans UK expansion
Long standing KFC franchise partner The Adil Group has acquired all 22 restaurants from former franchisee First Rate, as it continues to invest in and grow its KFC portfolio in the UK.
The acquisition gives The Adil Group a platform to expand into the North West, acquiring drive-thrus, small box sites and restaurants across Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool, Preston, and Wigan.
As part of the deal, The Adil Group has set out new plans to grow its KFC business by almost 20% over the next five years, through building new restaurants across the UK.
This investment reflects The Adil Group’s confidence in the KFC brand and the significant growth potential in the UK chicken market, which is estimated to grow to £6bn by 2035 as the nation’s appetite for fried chicken grows at pace. As the market leader and original fried chicken brand, KFC is leading this growth, with same-store sales up 10% in Q2 and 9% year-to-date across the UK and Ireland.
The investment builds on a successful 22-year partnership between KFC and The Adil Group, underpinned by a shared ambition to grow the brand, invest in restaurants and deliver great experiences for customers and teams. On completion, The Adil Group will become KFC UK & Ireland’s largest franchise partner, with 135 restaurants across the UK.
Raja Adil, CEO of The Adil Group, said: “After more than twenty years working with KFC, we’ve never been more confident in the opportunity ahead. There is huge potential in the UK chicken market, and entering into North Wales, Manchester and Liverpool will unearth exciting opportunities for growth. This investment reflects our ambition and with our focus on great operations and the backing of the KFC brand I’m confident this deal will deliver growth and opportunities for our business and teams.”
James Whitehorn, Chief Growth Officer of KFC UK & Ireland, added: “We’re hungry to grow our footprint across the UK and Ireland, and ambitious franchise partners The Adil Group are fundamental to making that happen. They share our obsession for fried chicken, running great restaurants, and are committed to investing in KFC for the long term.
“This is just one example of the momentum behind KFC right now. With strong franchise partnerships, great teams and continued investment, we’re fired up to open more restaurants, reach more communities and lead the growth of the UK and Ireland chicken market.”
It follows the launch of KFC UK&I’s £1.5 billion growth plan, announced last year, to open 500 new restaurants and create more than 7,000 jobs across the UK and Ireland over the next decade. Franchise partners are at the heart of this growth strategy, building new restaurants, creating jobs and unlocking growth and opportunity in all corners of the UK.
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