Fried Chicken

Pecking order: the UK’s fried chicken market explained

05-Sep-2024 By Joe Lutrario

While KFC continues to dominate, competition in the fried chicken space is at an all-time high as three other US imports duke it out for second place.

Saiphin Moore to launch Thai fried chicken concept

03-Sep-2024 By James McAllister

Saiphin Moore is to launch a new Thai fried chicken concept, which will take up residence below her Slurp Noodles restaurant in London’s Spitalfields.

Judy Joo builds Seoul Bird estate with new sister brand and first airport site

28-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Judy Joo is pushing ahead with the UK expansion of her Korean fried chicken concept Seoul Bird with the launch of a new sister brand and a forthcoming airport debut.

Wingstop reaches 50 site milestone

19-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Fried chicken brand Wingstop has opened its 50th UK site, with at least six more set to launch before the end of the year.

Wingstop UK launches sale process

05-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Lemon Pepper Holdings, the master franchisee for Wingstop UK, has hired Goldman Sachs to explore a sale of the business after six years of rapid growth.

The Lowdown

Another US fried chicken brand is coming to the UK. Is there space for it?

26-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

US-based Dave’s Hot Chicken has bold plans for the UK, with 60 restaurants planned.

Lost Boys Chicken relaunches pub residency after closing Brighton restaurant

23-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Brighton-based fried chicken brand Lost Boys has returned to its roots and relaunched its original pub residency at The Joker near Preston Circus following the closure of its only restaurant.

Azzurri to bring Dave’s Hot Chicken to UK

09-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group is to bring California-based fast casual concept Dave’s Hot Chicken to the UK with a view to opening 60 sites under the brand beginning in London next year.

Wingers opens five new sites as expansion continues

05-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Chicken wing brand Wingers has opened five new franchised store openings this year as part of its plans to have 20 stores by the end of 2024 and 50 by 2028.

Wingstop named fastest growing UK restaurant group

28-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

Wingstop UK has been named as the fastest growing restaurant group in the UK by The Sunday Times 100 for the second year in a row.

Popeyes UK reaches 50 site milestone

21-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Fast-growing fried chicken brand Popeyes will open its 50th UK site next month in Glasgow.

Sides expands omnichannel presence with new Iceland range

18-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Sides, the QSR fried chicken brand created by YouTube stars The Sidemen, is expanding its omnichannel presence with the launch of a new retail range in Iceland.

Popeyes adopts AI technology for its drive-thrus

04-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

Popeyes says it is the first quick service restaurant in the UK to use AI for drive-thru ordering following a successful pilot.

Morley’s moves into retail with Heinz collab fried chicken sauce

30-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Cult London fried chicken brand Morley’s has moved into the omnichannel retail space by launching its collaboration Heinz x Morley’s Fried Chicken Sauce into supermarkets.

Popeyes sees annual sales pass £100m

29-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Annual sales at Popeyes UK have passed £100m, according to CEO Tom Crowley, as the group’s estate nears 50 sites.

Fried chicken burger brand Butchies flocks to London Bridge

16-Apr-2024 By Restaurant

Fried chicken burger brand Butchies will open its seventh site in the capital later this year as it looks to restart its expansion.

Smoking Goat wins Kricket’s annual Fried Chicken Challenge

20-Mar-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Smoking Goat has won Kricket’s second annual Fried Chicken Challenge wowing judges with its take on classic central Thai fried chicken.

Sauce Shop develops delivery-only chicken brand

08-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

British sauce brand Sauce Shop has partnered with Sessions to launch an exclusive delivery brand.

Wingstop UK eyes 15 new sites in 2024

29-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Fried chicken brand Wingstop UK has announced its biggest opening pipeline since launching in the UK in 2018.

Popeyes to open first travel hub location as it ramps up expansion

22-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Popeyes will open its first travel hub restaurant this year with a site in London’s Waterloo station as part of plans that will see it double its UK estate in 2024.

TDR Capital takes controlling stake in Popeyes UK

11-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

TDR Capital has increased its shareholding in Popeyes UK, the fast-growing fried chicken brand.

Jollibee eyes UK growth despite growing losses

04-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Jollibee has set out plans to ‘significantly increase’ its UK presence by 2028, despite seeing its losses widen in its latest financial results.

Wingers signs 30 site development deal

18-Dec-2023 By Hannah Currie

Buttermilk fried chicken concept Wingers has signed a 30 site development deal for West London and the Thames Valley.

Westfield Stratford City to become home to the largest Wingstop in the UK

08-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Wingstop UK is to open its largest site yet at Westfield Stratford City in London in early 2024.

KFC to acquire 218 restaurants from EG Group

06-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

KFC is to acquire more than 200 restaurants from EG Group, its largest franchisee in the UK and Ireland.

KFC launches partnership with Uber Direct to boost in-house delivery channel

23-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

KFC UK & Ireland has launched an exclusive partnership with Uber Direct in order to further enhance its own delivery channel.

Wingstop to open two more Scottish restaurants

13-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Chicken wing brand Wingstop UK is opening two more sites in Scotland by the end of the year to bring its total to three restaurants in the country.

Miss Millie’s to open in Newquay as part of plans to 'become nationally recognised'

07-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

A fried chicken restaurant brand named after KFC founder Colonel Sanders' daughter will open its latest store in Newquay this month.

Sides looks beyond London with Manchester its first stop

03-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Fried chicken brand Sides will open its first standalone restaurant outside of London this month in Manchester.

KFC ends Deliveroo partnership to focus on 'better commercials' with other aggregators

26-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

KFC has ended its partnership with Deliveroo to focus its efforts on other delivery channels, including its own.

Street food market Feast at The Mills to open in Wigan

10-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

A street food market will open in Wigan later this month on the site of a former Victorian mill.

US-based Korean fried chicken brand Bonchon looks to take flight in UK

27-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

US-based Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon has partnered with property adviser Christie & Co to bring its fast-expanding concept to the UK.

Chick-fil-A plots UK return

14-Sep-2023 By Restaurant

US fast food chain Chick-fil-A has announced it is planning to relaunch in the UK in early 2025 and expand to five sites within the first two years.

Wingers launches franchising with plans for 50 new sites

30-Aug-2023 By Hannah Currie

Buttermilk fried chicken concept Wingers plans to double its estate by the end of the year as it opts to expand through the franchising route.

KFC moves into retail with limited-edition popcorn

21-Aug-2023 By James McAllister

KFC UK has moved into the omnichannel retail space with the launch of a new, limited-edition popcorn flavour.

Miss Millie’s heads east

14-Aug-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Currently Southwest-centric fried chicken chain Miss Millie’s will make its debut outside the region later this year with a site in Eastbourne.

Popeyes to make Scottish debut

08-Aug-2023 By Joe Lutrario

US-born fried chicken brand Popeyes will make its debut north of the border later this year with a drive-thru site just outside Glasgow.

The Sidemen open fourth London restaurant

07-Aug-2023 By Restaurant

Fried chicken brand Sides has opened its fourth London site in Croydon, as it pushes ahead with plans to open 10 physical restaurants across the UK this year.

The Lowdown: KFC's omakase dining experience

04-Aug-2023 By James McAllister

The Colonel has used the capital’s growing appetite for omakase restaurants as inspiration for the launch of its latest burger special.

Popeyes UK secures £50m funding package to drive next phase of growth

01-Aug-2023 By James McAllister

Popeyes UK has secured £50m of additional funding from private equity firm TDR Capital to accelerate its restaurant opening programme.

The Lowdown: Wings & Rings

28-Jul-2023 By James McAllister

Popeyes UK has launched a wedding catering service for those looking to add a little Cajun spice to their nuptials.

El Pollote to open first bricks and mortar site

26-May-2023 By Restaurant

Street food brand El Pollote will open its first bricks and mortar site this summer.

Santoro brothers to launch new fast food concept

25-May-2023 By James McAllister

A pair of vegan-focused restaurateurs are to launch a new fast food restaurant in London’s Soho that will serve both meat and plant-based dishes.

Popeyes to open first UK drive-thru restaurant next month

26-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

US fried chicken restaurant Popeyes UK is opening the doors to its first drive-thru restaurant next month.

Business Profile

Southern pride: the Louisiana fried chicken brand that’s coming in hot

13-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

Following a successful landing on these shores, US brand Popeyes is on course to become a dominant player in the UK’s fried chicken space.

Popeyes aiming to open multiple drive-thru locations this year

14-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

Popeyes has confirmed it will open its first drive-thru location in the UK in the coming months in Rotherham, with further roadside sites set to launch later this year.

The Lowdown: Kricket’s Fried Chicken Challenge

10-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

Kricket founders Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell hosted their inaugural Fried Chicken Challenge this week, with Black Bear Burger crowned as the capital’s chicken king.

Wingstop moves into retail parks

08-Feb-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Wingstop UK has announced plans to open its first standalone retail unit at Gallions Reach Retail Park in Beckton, East London, in spring 2023.

Black Bear Burger launches spin off concept 20ft Fried Chicken

19-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Black Bear Burger is to become the latest burger brand to attempt a chicken side hustle.

Kricket to host inaugural Fried Chicken Challenge

18-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Kricket founders Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell are next month launching the Fried Chicken Challenge that will see participants cooking their best take of the fried dish.