A brood of US fried chicken restaurant brands are hunting for sites to get a foothold in the UK market.
Chick-fil-A, Bonchon Chicken, Dave’s and Wingstop are among those entering or expanding their presence in the UK.
Simon Chaplin, head of restaurants at Christie & Co, which is advising Bonchon Chicken, a Korean-American fried chicken chain, said: “It’s more expensive to open a site in the UK than in the US. However, for brands, the UK serves as a gateway for their expansion into Europe due to the shared language and a better understanding of the American market. It’s a good starting point for those looking to expand into Europe.”
There has been an emerging trend of exploring new brands among young people, Chaplin added, leading to increased demand for quick-service restaurants. “The consumer is moving more towards the quick-service restaurants market, and the power of brands influences the consumer,” he said.
Bonchon Chicken, which already has one restaurant in Paris, is searching for master franchisees in the UK and elsewhere on the continent. The brand has plans to invest approximately £5m and open 10 stores initially, followed by regional franchises across the UK. The company is looking for city centre and large town sites of up to 2,500 sq ft with two floors of seating. It aims to establish its UK presence by the end of this year, and then to target Germany and Spain.
Christie & Co has also been working with American burger chain Carl’s Jr to launch in the UK. Boparan Restaurant Group has signed a deal with Carl’s as the UK master franchisee and already has sites lined up to open in early 2025.
Other new entrants include Dave’s Hot Chicken, a chain backed by rapper Drake, which recently signed a franchise deal with hospitality investment firm Azzurri Group to roll out the brand in the UK. KLM Real Estate has been tasked with finding its first London sites and plans to open 60 outlets nationwide.
Chick-fil-A plans to launch its first chain of restaurants in Q1 2025. The business will invest more than £76m over the next 10 years and open five stores in the first two years.
And brands with an existing base are looking to grow. Wingstop expects to open 15 new locations in the UK this year, bringing the total to 57 sites since its UK launch in 2018.
Lemon Pepper Holdings, the master franchisee of Wingstop UK, signed a new leasing deal earlier this month to open a new outlet in Ealing, taking 2,750 sq ft. So far this year, there are new Wingstop restaurants in Hounslow, Clapham, Watford, Croydon Valley Retail Park, Wood Green, Lakeside Shopping Centre, Westfield Stratford City and Merry Hill near Dudley. Its Stratford City Westfield outlet is its biggest site to date, extending to 5,000 sq ft and hosting more than 160 covers on the first floor.
US chicken wing diner Wing Kingz recently signed a 15-year lease with Clearbell Property Partners to launch its fourth UK outlet at Belgrade Plaza in Coventry. The chain has taken 4,433 sq ft and is set to open this month.
Catherine Stevenson, cross-border retail and leisure associate at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “The UK hospitality sector is experiencing a surge in activity, driven by renewed investor interest. This revival is acting as a catalyst for growth. Consumer habits have shifted significantly, with a clear divide emerging: people are either willing to pay for high-quality meals or seeking affordable yet consistent options.
“Despite the competitive nature of the fast-food market, there are still opportunities for chicken brands in the UK. By aligning with consumer trends and offering affordable, consistent-quality food, these brands can thrive.”
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