EG Group has acquired 52 KFC sites in the UK from Amsric Group.
The acquired restaurants, across the south and south-west regions, include over 1600 team members and a mix of high-quality drive-thru and traditional restaurant formats.
As a result the group now operates more than 1700 food service concessions, post-completion EG will operate over 220 KFC restaurants in Europe and the UK.
“Acquiring the Amsric portfolio further strengthens our customer proposition and is highly complementary to our existing operations, and our long-term growth plans for our foodservice business,” EG Group co-founders Mohsin Issa CBE and Zuber Issa CBE said.
“The KFC brand has continued to grow in recent years due to its focus on changing customer needs and brand positioning.
“Even during the pandemic, KFC moved quickly to assess and adapt in order to embrace the rapidly evolving environment. We have seen a marked upward trend in the performance of our existing KFC network and this has given us the confidence to consider and invest in more assets.”
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This transaction follows EG Group’s acquisition of the largest KFC franchise in the UK and Ireland from The Herbert Group in March 2020.
At the time, the acquisition comprised 146 KFC restaurants and one Pizza Hut Store, as well as a development pipeline and a small number of non-trading sites.
Amsric Group managing director Ragin Patel added: “We are pleased to be selling our KFC business to EG Group. As a family-managed business, we take a people-first approach and wanted to ensure our KFC network went to a new owner who is committed to investing in the network and allowing our employees to realise opportunities for professional growth.
“Our first priority is to make sure our team members are well supported through the transition and ensure there is minimal disruption to our guests.”
KFC UK & Ireland general manager Paula MacKenzie concluded: “Firstly, I would like to thank Ragin and the Patel family for all their hard work, and their longstanding support of our brand. EG Group’s commitment to investing not only in the existing restaurants, but also in growth through the development of new locations reinforces the strength of our brand, and of KFC as a world-class franchisor.
“We are confident that EG Group’s expertise, focus on their people and depth of connection to our brand will yield tremendous success and continued growth.”
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