Tue 9th Sep 2025 - Exclusive: KFC franchisee Gastronomy signs deal to more than double restaurant count by 2030 Exclusive – KFC franchisee Gastronomy signs deal to more than double restaurant count by 2030: Long-term KFC franchisee Gastronomy has signed a deal to more than double the number of KFC restaurants it operates over the next five years, adding more than 50 restaurants to its portfolio, Propel has learned. Backed by HSBC, Gastronomy will grow to more than 100 KFC restaurants across the UK by 2030. Gastronomy was listed third in the inaugural Profit Growth Tracker – the new industry benchmarking initiative that measures profitability growth across the broad church of the UK’s hospitality sector, from Propel and leading sector advisory firm AlixPartners – generating Ebitda compound annual growth rate over three years of Companies House accounts of 50.8%. The new openings will focus on the north west, East Midlands, West Midlands, Shropshire and Wales where the brand sees the “greatest growth potential” and will be a mix of drive-thrus and restaurants with parking to improve accessibility for customers across these regions. Gastronomy opened its first KFC restaurant in Aberystwyth in 2007 and has since grown its portfolio to 44 KFC restaurants across Wales, the Midlands, the north west and Shropshire. Gastronomy was also recently recognised by The Sunday Times in its Best Places to Work list. The new deal follows the announcement in May that KFC was doubling down on its commitment to the UK and Ireland with a £1.5bn growth plan, which will see the brand open a further 500 restaurants in the market over the next decade. This also includes upgrading existing restaurants with fresh new designs and the latest digital capabilities, creating more than 7,000 jobs over the next five years, and strengthening KFC's long-standing relationships with its British and Irish suppliers. In August, KFC reported UK & Ireland system sales growth of 5% year-on-year for the second quarter ending 30 June 2025, a rise of 5% on the quarter. The UK & Ireland accounts for 6% of KFC sales globally. For the year to 24 December 2024, Gastronomy reported turnover of £61,365,000 (2023: £56,507,000) and a pre-tax profit of £2,758,000 (2023: £93,000). Acky Khan, chief executive of Gastronomy, said: “In all my 30 years with the brand, I've never been more excited to grow and invest in KFC. There's a boldness in the marketing calendar, with new products that are driving real relevance with consumers and getting us noticed. It's the best yet, and it's the perfect moment to lean in. That's why we're incredibly proud to be strengthening our partnership with KFC and growing to 100 restaurants across the UK. The ambition within KFC is electric, and backed by a hugely supportive leadership team, we see lots of potential to unlock the next phase of our growth story. This investment is testament to the hard work of our people and will provide incredible opportunities for our team members to grow and develop long term careers with us.” Rob Swain, UK general manager of KFC, said: “We're hungry to grow our footprint across the UK and Ireland, and strong partnerships with our franchisees are our secret recipe. We're proud to be continuing to grow our partnership with Gastronomy. Acky represents the very best of our franchisees: growth-focused, ambitious, and totally committed to KFC. His journey from one restaurant to more than 40 – and now aiming for 100 – is the kind of ambition that fuels our brand. This is just one example of the momentum powering KFC right now – from our restaurant teams to our franchisees and leadership. We're all fired up to grow the business, connect with the next generation of consumers, and bring our unbeatable chicken to even more people across the UK and Ireland.” KFC features in Propel’s UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which is exclusive to Premium Club subscribers. The next edition will be sent tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 September) and feature 370 companies. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up. Propel is also launching the Franchisor Showcase, which will put the spotlight on 11 up-and-coming food and beverage franchisors. The inaugural event will be held on Tuesday, 25 November at One Moorgate Place in London and will feature 11 presentations from within the UK food and beverage franchisor community.