Burger King, a prominent fast-food chain, has disclosed its strategy to expand rapidly in the UK by opening 30 new locations annually. The company, which currently operates 574 restaurants in the UK, plans to kick off this expansion starting next year, focusing on self-operated sites rather than franchise operations.
This announcement follows Burger King’s strong sales performance despite facing what they described as a challenging economic environment. The company’s recent financial results indicated positive developments within its business, with signs of improvement and a notable slowdown in inflation. However, Burger King acknowledged the impact of financial pressures on customers and increased costs associated with last year’s Budget on the UK hospitality sector.
Alasdair Murdoch, the CEO of Burger King UK, highlighted the challenges faced by the sector, including rising labor costs due to significant wage increases. In a strategic move earlier this year, Burger King collaborated with renowned chef Gordon Ramsay to introduce an £11 wagyu burger.
The firm reported robust trading in 2025, surpassing $1 billion in system-wide sales in the UK. Additionally, Burger King expanded its franchise rights to the Republic of Ireland for the first time, opening up new avenues for growth opportunities. Financially, the company saw a 7% revenue increase to £408.3 million in 2024, with underlying profits climbing by 12% to £26 million, attributed to disciplined cost management practices.
Mr. Murdoch expressed satisfaction with the company’s solid performance in 2024, emphasizing revenue growth, positive like-for-like sales, and enhanced underlying EBITDA despite economic challenges and sector cost pressures.