Martin Shuker, Managing Director of KFC, the UK’s favourite chicken restaurant, has announced plans to open 150 new restaurants, creating 6,000 jobs, in the UK and Ireland over the next five years.
2014 marks Shuker’s tenth year at the helm of KFC UK and Ireland, and will see the company investing £21m to open 32 new stores before the end of the year, creating 1,300 new jobs. After nine consecutive years of sales growth, this announcement demonstrates the continued strength of the business and KFC’s commitment to growth in the UK.
Ambitious plans
KFC has ambitious plans for the future to make the business bigger and better. The company will invest £40m in the refurbishment and modernisation of 220 restaurants, explore plans to introduce a new range of lighter products, and innovate with technology to improve service with the new Fast Track app.
Investment in people
KFC attributes its growth and success to its people, and it is the company’s goal to become the best organization in the UK for training and development. KFC became the first retail business in the UK to offer an honours degree, just one of the reasons the company was voted Britain’s Top Employer in 2012, 2013 and 2014, becoming the first company to win the award for three consecutive years.
Engaging with consumers
This year will also see KFC looking at new ways of engaging with consumers, with the company’s advertising taking a more emotional and narrative-driven approach. In addition, KFC will be the subject of a major prime time BBC documentary later in the year, giving people a unique behind-the-scenes look at the business.
Martin Shuker, Managing Director, KFC UK & Ireland, commented
“I really believe that above everything else, the key to our growth is our people and there’s such a great story here with apprenticeships, the degree programme and Barnardo’s. You can build a meaningful career at KFC, and we are offering an alternative route to higher education. That’s the thing I get the most joy from and have the most pride about.
“On top of this, the reality is that we could absolutely keep growing at this rate for the next five years and longer because there’s demand for KFC in geographies where we are not yet present, so as long as we can make sure our offering is appealing to consumers I think the ceiling quite a long way away.”
For more information click here