Chick-fil-A’s plan to expand in the United Kingdom starting next year will initially include restaurant openings in Belfast, Leeds, Liverpool, and London. The company plans five restaurants across the U.K. in the “first stage” of its expansion plans in the market. That stage is expected to take two years, while the company plans to invest over $100 million to expand there within the next 10 years.
“Serving communities is at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to bringing Chick-fil-A’s delicious food and signature hospitality to Belfast, Leeds, Liverpool and London, and continuing our long-term investment in the U.K.,” chief international officer Anita Costello said in a statement. "From job creation to supporting local causes, we are excited about the positive impact our first restaurants will have in the communities they serve.”
In addition to the U.K., the company is eyeing ambitious international growth in stores across Europe and Asia supported by a $1 billion investment. Plans currently call for five international markets by 2030, with the U.K. housing the first permanent store outside of North America.
Chick-fil-A’s last attempt to enter the European market — in London in 2019 — ended when a six-month popup lease expired. An earlier attempt to operate in South Africa from 1996 to 2001 fizzled out because the chain didn’t register enough brand awareness among customers in those markets, according to reports.
Chick-fil-A’s international strategy comes as the chain barrels toward $22 billion in annual domestic sales, third behind just McDonald’s and Starbucks. According to Technomic, the chain ended 2023 with just under 3,000 U.S. locations.
The U.K. menu will include the chain’s Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, salads, and nuggets. Restaurants plan to serve chicken sourced from the U.K. as well as 100% free range eggs raised on farms with welfare certification. Additionally, each new restaurant will donate to a local nonprofit organization in celebration of its opening and will be able to participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, which redirects surplus food to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks, and nonprofits.
“We’ve always cared about the impact of our restaurants on the local communities that we serve, and we strive to positively impact areas throughout the U.K.," head of U.K. operations Joanna Symonds said in a statement. “Caring for people, while delivering great food, is at the heart of our brand, and we encourage our local Owner-Operators to partner with organizations which support their local communities.”
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
