Burger King, a leading fast food chain, has unveiled a strategy to open 30 new locations annually in the UK to facilitate rapid growth. The company, which currently operates 574 restaurants in the UK, intends to kick off this expansion starting next year, focusing primarily on self-operated sites rather than franchise operations.
The decision comes in light of Burger King’s robust sales performance despite facing challenging economic conditions. The firm’s recent financial results indicated positive momentum within the business, citing a slowdown in inflation. However, Burger King acknowledged pressures on consumer spending and increased costs related to the previous year’s Budget impact on the UK hospitality industry.
Alasdair Murdoch, the CEO of Burger King UK, commented on the situation, noting that while food and utility costs have stabilized, the sector is contending with subdued consumer sentiment and escalating labor expenses due to higher national minimum wage rates.
In a noteworthy development, Burger King partnered with renowned chef Gordon Ramsay in September to introduce an £11 wagyu burger. The company reported strong trading performance in 2025, surpassing $1 billion (£748 million) in system-wide sales in the UK. Additionally, Burger King extended its franchise rights to the Republic of Ireland for the first time, expanding growth prospects for the business.
The financial results for the previous year revealed a 7% revenue increase to £408.3 million in 2024, with underlying profits climbing 12% to £26 million, attributed to disciplined cost management practices. Mr. Murdoch expressed satisfaction with Burger King UK’s performance in 2024, highlighting revenue growth, positive like-for-like sales, and enhanced underlying EBITDA through effective cost controls and operational focus.