Latest news with #RobSwain
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
KFC to invest £1.5bn opening new restaurants in UK and Ireland creating 7,000 jobs
KFC has announced plans to invest nearly £1.5billion into its UK and Ireland business and create 7,000 jobs. The expansion will see the fast food chain, which operates 1,000 stores in the region and employs about 30,000 people, open a further 500 over the next decade. KFC is celebrating its 60th year in the UK and is also upgrading 200 of its existing sites with a new design and upgraded digital features. It said Britain's appetite for fried chicken was growing, with the market estimated to be worth £3.1billion. 'We've never seen such strong demand,' added Rob Swain, UK and Ireland general manager.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major boost for KFC fans as chain reveals major investment to upgrade shops as it takes on rivals
FAST food chain KFC is splashing out £1.49billion to clip the wings of rivals Popeyes and Wingstop. Yesterday KFC announced it would spend £583million creating 7,000 jobs at diners and in the supply chain. Bosses said they aim to take on managers, as well as staff for kitchen-based jobs and newly created 'guest experience' roles. The chain, with more than 1,000 restaurants in the UK and Ireland and 30,000 staff, will also spend £466million on 500 new outlets, including flagship sites and drive-thrus. The North West is one area of focus. More than 200 existing restaurants will also be upgraded. And a further £404million will be used to 'strengthen' KFC's relationships with its suppliers and help its businesses to grow. Boss Rob Swain said: 'We've been serving customers in the UK for 60 years now. "But we've never seen such strong demand.' The UK fried chicken market is reckoned to be worth £3.1billion. Wingstop has around 57 franchised sites and plans a further 20. Popeyes has 65 across the UK and Ireland after opening 33 last year. Beloved chicken chain that's 'way better' than Popeyes announces it's now adding 20 new locations to lineup 1
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
KFC to open 500 sites and create 7000 jobs in UK expansion
This comes as the firm attempts to combat growing chains like Wingstop and Popeyes. The fried chicken giant will invest nearly £1.5 billion into new restaurants, staffing and existing locations. Around £466 million will be invested into 500 new KFC restaurants (Image: PA) Around £466 million will go into 500 new locations in places like Ireland and the North West of England. Money will also go into improving 200 of its existing stores, which represent around a fifth of the entire chain. These will be upgraded with a new design and the latest digital features. The expansion will also create some 7000 new jobs, with these including managers, kitchen-based staff and a newly-created 'guest experience' role. Investment is also earmarked for KFC's suppliers, including spending on fresh chicken, gravy, and salads. I tried McDonald's and KFC vegan burgers - was I converted and which is best? Lidl launches new Dubai Chocolate spread 'to satisfy every sweet tooth' Fried chicken restaurant chain to give away 10,000 free food items across UK New Coca-Cola flavour spotted in UK stores as fans cry 'need to find this' There are currently more than 1000 restaurants in the UK and Ireland, and about 30,000 staff employed by the firm. Rob Swain, KFC UK and Ireland's general manager, 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.' He added that the company was 'doubling down' on its commitment to the UK and Ireland with its £1.49 billion total investment.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Jobs and drive-throughs for Ireland as part of €1.8bn KFC investment
US fast food chain KFC has said it plans to create 7,000 new jobs in the UK and Ireland with an investment of €1.77 billion over the next five years. Ireland-specific job numbers were not available. Much of the investment will go toward opening new restaurants as well as drive-throughs in 'key locations' in Ireland and north west England where it has identified strong potential for growth. The new jobs will be created in its supply chain, accounting for €695 million of the total outlay. They will be a combination of customer-facing, kitchen-based and management jobs as well as a newly created 'guest experience lead role' tasked with improving customer experience. The investment forms part of KFC's ambition to 'become the fastest growing restaurant brand for the next generation', with a further 500 restaurants planned over the next decade. Chicken, gravy and salad supplies are all to be sourced from companies across the UK. READ MORE Rob Swain, general manager of KFC UK & Ireland, said the company had been serving customers in the UK for 60 years. '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.'
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
KFC to open 500 new restaurants in UK as part of major expansion plan
KFC estimates that the UK fried chicken market is worth £3.1bn annually, and it expects it to continue to grow, with new entrants in recent years including Popeyes, Wingstop, Dave's Hot Chicken and Slim Chickens KFC is planning to open 500 new UK restaurants over the next five years as part of a major expansion drive. The chicken fast food giant said the £1.5illion plan would create more than 7,000 new jobs. KFC said £466million of the overall funding would go towards opening new "flagship" high street stores and drive-thrus in 'key locations' such as Ireland and North West England. Alongside this, KFC will be "upgrading" more than 200 restaurants, which equates to 20% of its UK store estate. The brand added that it will spend £404million to 'strengthen KFC's long-standing relationships with its suppliers and help businesses across the UK and Ireland continue to grow'. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. KFC estimates that the UK fried chicken market is worth £3.1billion annually, and it expects it to continue to grow, with new entrants in recent years including Popeyes, Wingstop, Dave's Hot Chicken and Slim Chickens. 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-£2billion 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.' Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, 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.' To mark 60 years of operating in the UK and Ireland, KFC also released its first economic and community impact report, which showed that it had added £110billion of total annual economic contribution to the UK economy every year. It also reported that it spends £856million annually directly with UK-based suppliers Over the last 60 years, KFC says it has contributed £ 11.6 billion to the UK economy. Kentucky Fried Chicken - known better as KFC -was founded by Colonel Harland D Sanders in Kentucky in the 1950s. The first KFC site to open was in Preston, Lancashire, in 1965. As of now, the chain has over 1,000 branches across the UK and Ireland and employs 33,500 people through its company and 27 franchise partners.
