Yum Brands has agreed to buy more than 200 KFC outlets from EG Group, the company’s largest KFC franchisee in the UK and Ireland.

All of EG Group’s KFC UK and Ireland operations, as well as 7800 team members, will be managed by KFC UK and Ireland when completed. This acquisition will strengthen KFC’s leading position in the market, helping the company to drive growth and gain market share.

Yum Brands expects to complete the transaction by the end of next year’s first half. The deal will be funded by the company’s cash flows and is projected to have no impact on its financial results next year. 

“Over the past five years, we’ve secured our leadership position within the UK and Ireland chicken market, opening 200 new restaurants, and we’re now close to being a £2 billion business in the UK, thanks to our extremely talented local management team,” said Sabir Sami, KFC Division CEO. 

KFC UK and Ireland reportedly has a good track record of sustained growth, which has continued this year, with system sales up 7 per cent and same-store sales up 5 per cent across its 1040 outlets. 

KFC has launched 200 new locations in the UK and Ireland since 2018 and has announced its ambitions to open a further 500 restaurants by 2030.