KFC’s UK system sales rose 7% in the third quarter of 2026 and 8% over the first nine months, according to results published by its owner, Yum! Brands, on 3 November. The UK, where most KFC restaurants are run by franchisees, now accounts for 7% of the brand’s system sales worldwide.
The figures cover the three months to 30 September and exclude the effect of currency movements. Yum! Brands reports system sales by market, and the UK figure compares with growth of 3% in China and 2% across Europe over the same quarter. The United States was the only market where KFC system sales fell, by 6% in the quarter and 3% so far this year. The results are the first since Yum! completed the sale of its Pizza Hut business at the start of September, so the group’s figures no longer include that brand.
Like-for-like sales up 6% in the UK
On the results call, Yum! gave a second UK measure. Like-for-like sales, which Yum! calls same-store sales and which strip out the effect of new restaurants, grew by 6% in the quarter. The company said customer visits grew five percentage points faster than the wider quick-service restaurant market, and that customer scores for taste improved. Chris Turner, chief executive of Yum! Brands, said: “early results in the U.K. have been promising.” Trade title MCA Insight reported the 6% figure on 4 November, linking it to a brand overhaul.
Two measures, two figures
The 7% and 6% figures are not in conflict. System sales count every KFC restaurant, franchised or company-run, including new openings. Like-for-like sales cover only restaurants open in both periods. At group level, Yum! said KFC’s system sales growth of 6% came from unit growth of 7% and like-for-like growth of 1%.
The UK leads KFC’s new strategy
Yum! described the UK as the first market to have most of the core elements of KFC’s new global strategy in place, built on value offers and new menu items. The company said it expects to extend parts of that approach across its top 20 markets through 2027. Worldwide, KFC opened 878 restaurants in 66 countries during the quarter, and its operating profit rose 9% to US$425 million, according to Foodservice Equipment Journal’s report of the results. Y
um!’s group turnover for the quarter was US$2.05 billion, up 4%. The UK also featured for another Yum! brand: Taco Bell, which launched its Baja Blast drink in the UK at the end of June, said its UK like-for-like sales had grown by double digits since. Yum! did not publish a UK restaurant count or a UK opening figure in the material reviewed for this article, unlike the figures brands set out across the UK franchise directory.
A franchised estate with a high entry bar
Around 95% of KFC’s UK restaurants are franchised, and the brand recruits through an enquiry route rather than an open application, an entry bar that rules out the first-time owner most fast food franchises in the UK will consider. Its stated requirements include £5 million in assets, £2 million in liquid funds, previous hospitality or food and beverage operating experience and plans for multi-site growth. The UK figures therefore cover an estate run largely by franchisees. The next update on KFC’s UK performance will come with Yum!’s fourth-quarter results, due on 3 February 2027.
