KFC UK & Ireland and franchise partner FPG Foods have agreed a deal that will see the South African restaurant operator acquire 17 KFC restaurants across London and southern England, significantly expanding its presence in the UK market and supporting plans to grow to 50 outlets by 2030.
The transaction will effectively double FPG Foods’ UK business, marking one of the largest recent franchise expansion moves within KFC’s British operations. The acquired restaurants are currently part of KFC’s company-owned estate and will transfer to FPG as part of the agreement.
FPG Foods currently operates 61 KFC restaurants in South Africa. The company entered the UK market in 2024 through the establishment of FPG Foods UK and has since expanded its British portfolio from five to 11 restaurants through acquisitions and new site development.
“The response we’ve seen since opening in the UK two years ago has given us even greater confidence in the KFC brand and the opportunity ahead,” said FPG Foods Chief Executive Officer Rashied Parker. He added that KFC UK & Ireland has “all the ingredients for sustained growth” and said the company had set an ambitious goal of reaching 50 restaurants by 2030.
Parker also credited the UK management team, led by General Manager Tyrone Herdman-Grant, for helping establish a platform for future growth through a focus on product quality, customer experience and team development.
KFC UK & Ireland General Manager Rob Swain described the agreement as an “important step” in the brand’s growth strategy across the UK and Ireland. Swain said franchise partners remain central to KFC’s expansion ambitions and praised FPG Foods’ track record of operating high-performing restaurants.
The acquisition aligns with KFC’s wider UK and Ireland growth strategy. The company announced plans in 2025 to invest nearly £1.5 billion across the region, including funding for approximately 500 new restaurants over the next decade, upgrades to more than 200 existing locations, and investments across its supply chain.
According to industry reports, the FPG transaction is expected to strengthen KFC’s franchise-led operating model while accelerating the group’s expansion in one of its key international markets. The deal also reflects continued confidence in the UK quick-service restaurant sector despite broader economic pressures facing hospitality operators.
