Q&A with Julian Reilly, Acquisitions Manager at KFC

Name: Julian Reilly

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Role: Acquisitions Manager, KFC

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Who is KFC?

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KFC is one of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, famous for its freshly prepared, hand-breaded chicken and secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices.

In the UK, we operate a successful franchise model alongside a strong equity estate, and we work closely with our partners to deliver smart, sustainable growth across all regions. This year, we are celebrating 60 years of KFC in the UK and Ireland, and to mark this milestone, we announced we're investing £1.49 billion in the UK and Ireland over the next five years, including £466 million to expand and refurbish our UK restaurants.

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How many locations do KFC have?

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We currently operate over 1,050 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, spanning a wide range of formats including Drive Thru, High Street, Foodcourt, Travel Hub and Express.

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Target locations?

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We’re actively looking for locations nationwide across all formats. For the latest information and to connect with us, please visit: www.kfc.co.uk/developments

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How many new locations are you targeting?

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We’re targeting 100 new openings over the next three years. We've seen consistent year-on-year growth and are now back on an equity expansion drive alongside our franchise partners - a dual-track approach that will be central to our growth strategy going forward.

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Size requirements?

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We typically consider sites ranging from 1,200 sq. ft up to 4,000 sq. ft depending on format and location.

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Additional requirements?

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As always, our primary focus is on securing high-quality Drive Thru locations. However, we’re also on the lookout for prime locations in high-footfall positions — including shopping centres, transport hubs and key high streets. We will also consider Drive To, Foodcourt, Express, Small Box and Travel Hub formats. This is all part of our ambition to make it easier for people to get their hands on our iconic chicken in the format they want, for the occasion they want, when they want and whenever they want.

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Planning consent?

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We will consider sites both with or without the appropriate planning in place — and are well-equipped to manage planning applications where required.

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Freehold or Leasehold?

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We’re open to all deal structures, including Freehold, Leasehold and Ground Lease opportunities.

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Do you pay intro fees?

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Yes — we pay up to £20,000 (ex. VAT) to property professionals for successful introductions.

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Recent openings or new locations in the pipeline?

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Our most recent equity opening is a brand-new Drive Thru in Leamington Spa, which opened recently and has smashed expectations ever since opening  — a fantastic start.

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Other recent highlights include:

• A Drive Thru on the new Welcome Break services at Hickling
• A Franchise Drive Thru in Harwich
• A Company flagship restaurant in The O2 Arena, London
• A food court unit at St Enoch’s Shopping Centre, Glasgow

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Additional Q&A

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What are the main challenges you face when acquiring new property?

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While all kinds of food to go operators are pursuing Drive Thru sites these days, our biggest challenge isn’t the competition — it’s making sure everything’s plugged in, powered up and ready to trade.

We typically face three key hurdles that can impact the speed of delivery:

• Planning – navigating the planning process can add time and complexity, especially for Drive Thru schemes.
• Power and Services – securing adequate utility connections continues to be a challenge in certain areas.
• Fibre Connectivity – more recently, delivering a reliable fibre connection has become a critical path item, and delays here can significantly affect our opening programme.

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Favourite occupier and why?

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From a KFC standpoint, I love complementary businesses — operators that drive footfall and help build strong co-located destinations.

Personally, I’m a fan of the disruptors. The brands with a bit of edge — cheeky, confident, and not afraid to challenge the norm. They keep the market fresh and interesting.

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What is your favourite building?

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Well, if I’m not allowed to talk about football stadia... coming from Liverpool it has to be the Liverpool Waterfront – Iconic, world famous and instantly recognisable - what’s not to love.

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Favourite retail or leisure destination?

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Le Mans 24hr Motor Race — hands down. But if we’re talking work, The O2 takes some beating. The energy, the scale, the buzz — it’s a great place to land a brand.

Contact information:

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Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, North East & North West.
Regional lead: Tom Reid | Contact Tom

Yorkshire, East Midlands & East Anglia.
Regional lead: Louisa Crook | Contact Louisa

M25, Wales, Midlands & South West.
Regional lead: Sarah Rees-Davies | Contact Sarah

M25, South East & Central London.
Regional lead: Julian Reilly | Contact Julian

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www.kfc.co.uk/developments

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