Latest news with #friedchicken
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Beloved fried chicken shop closes all its UK locations
A fried chicken shop hailed for its tasty food and inviting cocktails has closed after more than a decade in business, leaving fans devastated. Korean fried chicken shop chain Chick 'N' Sours has announced the closure of its Haggerston and Seven Dials restaurants in London, having first opened to customers in 2015. Taking to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news that the 'best chicken shop in the world' was set to close its doors for good, the restaurant's co-founder, David Wolanski, said that the business had tried to hold on for 'as long as we could' but that it was 'no longer viable' to remain open. The post read: 'Hello, it's with mixed emotions I'm here to tell you that we have closed our Chick 'N Sours restaurants in Seven Dials and Haggerston. 'Sunday night was our last day of trading. We do what we do because we love it, fuelled by passion and a desire to provide guests with awesome food and memorable dining experiences. But that's not enough these days. 'We hung in there as long as we could but I'm afraid we've now reached the point where operating the two restaurants just isn't viable anymore and it makes no commercial sense to continue.' Declaring that the 'casual dining restaurant model is broken', Mr Wolanski added: 'It's been an incredible journey from when Carl and I came up with the idea of opening the best chicken shop in the world 10 years ago on the back of my scooter. Taking to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news that the 'best chicken shop in the world' was set to close its doors for good, the restaurant's co-founder, David Wolanski, said that the business had tried to hold on for 'as long as we could' but that it was 'no longer viable' to remain open 'We scraped together what limited funds we had to open Haggerston and go on this wild roller coaster of a trip.' Opened in 2015 by Mr Wolanski and Carl Clarke and described as 'changing fried chicken for the good', the restaurant was adored by Londoners for its sweet and sour cocktails and high-quality chicken options. At the height of their success, the chain had four restaurants across the capital, with signature dishes including a Hot Chicken Bun, featuring chicken thighs and house pickles, alongside a Katsu Sandwich filled with curry sauce and Japanese pickle. Several disappointed fans took to Instagram to share their heartbreak at the shock closure, with one user remarking they were 'absolutely gutted', while another described it as a 'hard pill to swallow'. One commenter, who said that the beloved chicken shop was a 'special place' that they would miss dearly, said: 'Thank you for everything you've done. Your chicken shop touched my life (and soul) in so many different, unexpected ways. Not a single other place in London did this to me. Thank you'. Meanwhile, another user, who said they had been a 'loyal customer since day one', added that the business was 'the best there is, no question'. They added: 'If you guys can't make it work I worry so much for what that means for the industry. Thank you for all the amazing food and memories'. Opened in 2015 by Mr Wolanski and Carl Clarke and described as 'changing fried chicken for the good', the restaurant was adored by Londoners for its sweet and sour cocktails and high-quality chicken options While shutting their doors to customers in physical shopfronts, Chick 'N' Sours are still set to continue their residences at the Roof East and Corner Corner food halls. The popular chicken brand will also continue to serve customers on Deliveroo, while also making appearances at UK festivals and live music events. Making a desperate plea for customers to remember the importance of investing in independent restaurants, Mr Wolanski added: 'Remember, there are so many awesome independent restaurants out there doing great things but finding it tough out there also. 'We know things are tight for everyone but they need you. Go see them and spend your money with them, as the phrase 'use it or lose it' has never been so relevant.' It comes as more than 13,000 shops closed their doors for good in 2024 - an increase of 28 per cent on the year before. And, at the start of the year, industry experts predicted that up to 17,350 shops could close over the course of 2025, Nevertheless, the demand for fried chicken in the UK continues, with MailOnline revealing last year how Britain's highstreets were becoming overrun with fried chicken joints. The demand for fried chicken has likely also grown with the influence of social media personalities and celebrity endorsements. Amelia Dimoldenburg's wildly successful Chicken Shop Date series, where she dines with celebrities at local fried chicken shops, is bound to have furthered demand for the already popular fast-food In south London, a single stretch of road has a staggering 29 fried chicken shops, making it the biggest street in the UK for the fast food item. With a staggering 12 fried chicken shops within a stretch of just under two miles, Streatham High Road is home to almost every famous chicken shop brand, from Morley's to Chicken Cottage. And if you were to continue straight down the connecting London Road through to West Croydon, you would be able to spot a further 17 shops selling the fried goods. In short, this means you will pass a shocking 29 fried chicken shops on the single stretch of road from Streatham Hill to West Croydon without turning left or right, according to the Local Data Company. That is without accounting for the dozens more chicken shops that lay just off the main road. Since its first store was founded in Sydenham by Sri Lankan Tamil immigrant Kannalingam Selvendran in 1985, the Morley's brand has grown to become one of the most well-known, with nearly 100 branches across London. The demand for fried chicken has likely also grown with the influence of social media personalities and celebrity endorsements. Sidemen, the YouTube group popular among teens, sent fans into a frenzy when they opened their own fried chicken chain Sides in 2021. Meanwhile, Amelia Dimoldenburg's wildly successful Chicken Shop Date series, where she dines with celebrities at local fried chicken shops, is bound to have furthered demand for the already popular fast-food.
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
Popular fast food chain offers FREE sweet American product to customers – but you'll have to be quick
A POPULAR fast food chain is giving out one of their much-loved sweet treats for free to customers around the UK. American fried chicken brand, Popeyes, is hoping to clear up the confusion around this menu item for its British customers through this offer. 4 Popeyes UK is giving away 10,000 of its US-style Biscuit and Hot Honey for free in the lead up to National Biscuit Day on Thursday May 29. This is the perfect opportunity for Brits to try the American delicacy that has been around since the 1800s, but you have to get in quick. It comes as new research revealed 94% of the nation have claimed to love biscuits, with two-in-five saying they would rather give up social media than this iconic sweet treat. However, two-thirds do not actually know what the US-style biscuit is. Most think it is a scone that should be served with cream. The Popeyes Biscuit has been considered a heritage menu item for the fast-food chain since it first opened in 1972. Their item is actually commonly served as a side with fried chicken, likened to a British scone with its fluffy and buttery texture. However, the US-style biscuit has a buttermilk base, making it lighter with a creamier consistency. On top of that, as a traditional Southern side to fried chicken, it is often served with Cajun Gravy, or can be enjoyed with sweet toppings like hot honey or Nutella for breakfast. Inside Popeye's first UK restaurant as we try the menu – and the fried chicken is better than KFC Head of Food at Popeyes UK, Dave Hoskins, said: "At first glance, they do look very similar to the traditional scone, so it's no surprise fans this side of the pond often ask about them. "However, the Biscuit was one of our most requested items when we first announced we were coming to the UK. "So what better time than National Biscuit Day to clear up the confusion and give Brits the chance to taste the difference for themselves, with thousands of Biscuits up for grabs.' Rather than being crumbly and sweet, the Popeyes Biscuit is buttery and savoury. But you can give it a try for yourself for free by downloading and registering in The Popeyes UK app by National Biscuit Day to be in the chance to try it for free. You just have to have registered an account by midnight on May 28 to be entered, and there is only one entry per person. It is also available to order for £1.79 all day, via the app, delivery or at over 65 Popeyes restaurants around the country. This comes as Popeyes has started to expand in the UK, with 45 restaurants announced to open this year. It first came across the point in 2021 with a site in Stratford, but now has several dine-in restaurants, drive-thrus and delivery kithcens. 4
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
KFC to create 7,000 new jobs across Ireland and UK
KFC has unveiled plans to invest nearly €1.8 billion into its UK and Ireland chain and create 7,000 new jobs, as it said demand for fried chicken is stronger than it's ever been. The company said it wants to open another 500 restaurants over the next decade. Advertisement The plans form part of new growth ambitions as the chain looks to expand its reach across the nation and put money into its existing locations. It is set to spend about €556 million on opening new restaurants, with a focus on building flagship sites and drive-thrus in places like Ireland and the North West of England where it can tap into growing demand. The cash will also go toward upgrading more than 200 existing restaurants, representing about a fifth of its entire chain, with a new design and the latest digital features. KFC says on its website that it is offering up to a £20,000 (€23,800) 'finder's fee' to landlords and property experts who introduce a site it can build on. Advertisement The expansion will result in about 7,000 new jobs being created across the UK and Ireland business and its supply chain, over the next five years, according to the group. This will include jobs in restaurants and as managers, kitchen-based jobs, and a newly-created 'guest experience' role across the chain. It currently has more than 1,000 restaurants in the UK and Ireland and hires about 30,000 staff. Investment is also earmarked for KFC's suppliers, including spending on fresh chicken, gravy, and salads. Advertisement 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 investment.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
KFC plans to invest £1.5bn in UK and Ireland, creating thousands of jobs
KFC is to invest almost £1.5bn and create thousands of jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years, as the fast-food chain seeks to capitalise on the booming popularity of fried chicken. The chain, which is celebrating its 60th year of operations in the UK, said it plans to invest £1.49bn to grow and upgrade its existing 1,000-outlet estate. The company, formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, aims to invest £466m in opening 500 new restaurants in the UK and Ireland. The focus will be on building sites and drive-through outlets in key locations for the business, such as the north-west of England. Part of that investment will also include upgrading more than 200 existing restaurants, 20% of its existing state. The company said the expansion and upgrade plan will create more than 7,000 new jobs in its UK and Ireland business, and across its supply chain, over the next five years. The roles that will be created include restaurant managers, kitchen workers, customer-facing staff and a newly created 'guest experience lead role'. Rob Swain, the general manager of KFC in the UK and Ireland, said: 'We've never seen such strong demand for freshly prepared, fried chicken as we are seeing today.' KFC estimates that the UK fried chicken market is worth £3.1bn annually, and it expects it to continue to grow, with new entrants tapping the craze in recent years, including Popeyes, Wingstop, Dave's Hot Chicken and Slim Chickens. 'We've been serving customers in the UK for 60 years now,' Swain said. 'We are incredibly well-positioned to unlock this opportunity. That's why we are doubling down on our commitment.' KFC estimates that its jobs creation scheme will cost it £583m, while £404m will go into 'strengthening KFC's longstanding relationships with its suppliers'. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion KFC and its 27 franchise partners directly employ a total of 33,500 people in the UK and Ireland. In February, trade bodies representing the UK hospitality industry said that more than two-thirds of businesses intended to cut staff after the government's plan to increase national insurance contributions made by employers and raising the national minimum wage. 'Hospitality's ability to create places where people want to live, work and invest is unrivalled,' said Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of the trade body UKHospitality. '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.'
