KFC has opened its 1,000th restaurant in the UK and Ireland as it plans further expansion despite the challenges of the pandemic.
Its newest location is in Sandwich, Kent, which is the latest in the 160 new restaurants to have opened in the last five years.
The fried chicken chain said it aims to open another 50 restaurants in 2022 and another 300 in the next five years.
More than 27,000 people are employed in the UK & Ireland with a potential of 1,500 new job opportunities set to be created this year, it said.
The company put its success down to greater investment in people and skills, with over 15,000 team members trained in 2021 and nearly 1,100 young people having now joined apprenticeship programme, as well as its franchise model.
Paula MacKenzie, General Manager, KFC UK and Ireland, said: “We’ve been on a transformation journey over the last five years to become a more connected and vibrant business.
"Reaching 1,000 restaurants is a testament to our growth and commitment to serving delicious fried chicken up and down the country.
"From Dundee to Newquay, we’re in more communities than ever before. We know the role restaurants like ours play in employment levels and up-skilling the next generation. We want to be good business and a good neighbour, and are committed to ensuring this remains the case as our growth continues with greater investment in our people and in our communities.”
