KFC is set to expand its presence in the Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) region and India by opening key milestone restaurants in Bucharest, Romania, and Haryana, India.
The new Bucharest restaurant will be the brand's 1,000th store in the CEE region. It is equipped with modern kiosks, digitised drive-throughs, updated e-commerce platforms and data-informed artificial intelligence.
KFC aims to position itself as the leading quick service restaurant (QSR) brand in the CEE region and has set a target to open 100 stores annually as part of its global expansion strategy.
In India, KFC will open its 1,000th store in the state of Haryana at DLF Cyber Hub in Gurgaon before the end of 2023.
The 1,000th restaurant will be opened by its Indian franchise partner, Devyani International Limited, which has partnered with KFC’s parent company, Yum! Brands for more than two decades.
KFC Global CEO Sabir Sami said: “As one of the fastest-growing retail brands in the world, our growth is driven by our passion to lead with inclusivity, build with purpose, drive system sales and grow our brand in every market that we operate.
“I'm humbled by these achievements and see this as an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work of every business partner and team member as we continue to share the joy of our best-tasting fried chicken with more of the world.”
The restaurant brand stated that every 3.5 hours, it opens a new store somewhere in the world. In 2024, it plans to enter its 150th country.
KFC currently operates more than 29,000 restaurants across the globe, creating nearly one million jobs worldwide.
KFC Global chief development officer Nivera Wallani said: “While we're a global brand, we aim to meet the unique needs and expectations of our guests on a local level, ensuring that restaurants are designed to connect with the local community and feel paired with menus that resonate with the local culture and flavours.”
