Kentucky Fried Chicken has appointed Vail Williams to acquire 20 to 30 sites in towns across the South East that could add up to over 8,000(87,000 sq ft).
KFC has 430 outlets in the UK and is focusing on developing drive-thru outlets.
The acquisition of the sites is in effect from now and is expected to take a while. Peter Spelman of Vail Williams, said: “KFC has a significant requirement and it is in effect from now. There is a rolling programme of acquisitions as the sites become available. When the sites do become available we will go for it.”
Spelman added that the ideal site size was 0.2ha (0.5 acre) and that KFC would then be looking to build units of 232 – 269 sq m (2,500 – 2,900 sq ft). Unlike rival fast food operators who are only concerned with traffic flow, KFC pays closer attention to the local demographics, such as leisure facilities and retail and warehouse outlets when looking for a site.
As for the prices KFC are prepared to pay, Spelman said that they were in the market to pay land values and rents appropriate to fast food operations.
EGi News 13/12/1999
