KFC marks 50 years in the West Midlands with record contribution to the region

One of the biggest fast food chains in the world has been celebrating a half century in the West Midlands with a significant contribution.

KFC said it has made a £60 million contribution to the West Midlands economy and has reached the milestone of 75 restaurants in the West Midlands, supporting 2,300 jobs across the region.

The record contribution, which is made up of the opening of new restaurants, refurbishments of existing ones, and investment in jobs and its supply chain, marks 50 years of KFC in the region and reflects the significant long-term growth opportunity the brand sees in the West Midlands.

With the UK fried chicken market expected to reach £6 billion by 2035, new KFC research has revealed that the West Midlands is leading the nation’s growing appetite for fried chicken.

The survey of 3,000 UK consumers, including 1,000 from the West Midlands, found the region is home to the UK's biggest fried chicken fans, with 89 per cent enjoying fried chicken and 24 per cent eating more than they did five years ago, compared with 70 per cent and 17 per cent nationally.

The research also found the West Midlands is setting the pace for changing consumer tastes in fried chicken, with consumers demanding bigger flavours, greater choice and a shift towards boneless chicken.

More than a third (35 per cent) of West Midlanders say boneless is now their favourite way to enjoy fried chicken, with half (54 per cent) saying dipping sauces are an important part of the fried chicken experience.

This trend is already playing out in KFC’s restaurants in the region, where the Boneless Banquet is the best-selling menu item in the West Midlands, with KFC selling 16 million in 2025, the equivalent to 30 every minute.

Responding to changing consumer tastes, last month KFC unveiled the biggest expansion of its boneless menu to date.

The new Tenders & Dips range pairs Original Recipe Chicken Tenders with nine dipping sauces, ranging from Sweet Teriyaki and Hot Honey Habanero to Garlic Parm and Mango Masala.

Jo Tivers, Director of Food & Quality, said: “For 50 years, generations of Brummies, Yam Yams and Wulfrunians have been coming to KFC for our freshly prepared chicken, so they know great fried chicken when they taste it.

“It's fantastic to see that passion is stronger than ever, and it’s no surprise that our West Midlands customers bought 16 million Boneless Banquets last year alone.

“We know we’re a firm favourite here, but we never stand still when it comes to innovating for our customers.

“Our Tenders & Dips range will help us do exactly that, with a whole host of delicious limited-time launches in the pipeline starting with our very special Crispy Naan.”

Since opening its first restaurant, KFC has become part of communities across the West Midlands, from retail parks and drive-thrus to local high streets and city centres. Today, it works with 10 franchise partners in the region, operating more than 75 restaurants, supporting 2,300 jobs.

Beyond its restaurants, KFC helps create safe spaces and employment opportunities for young people across the West Midlands through the KFC Youth Foundation and its partners. In 2025, The KFC Foundation issued £40,000 of grants to causes across the West Midlands. KFC also donates surplus food to community kitchens throughout the region via its partnership with the Felix Project, and helps young people into work and training opportunities through the KFC Hatch programme.

KFC’s commitment to the West Midlands forms part of its £1.5 billion UK & Ireland growth plan over the next five years, which will see KFC open 500 new restaurants over the next decade and create more than 7,000 jobs across the business and its supply chain.

As part of this, KFC is undertaking a global brand refresh that customers will start to see in the UK & Ireland from this summer, across packaging, advertising and restaurant environments.

This refresh is the next evolution for the brand to reflect today’s culture and customer expectations.