Burger King, the fast-food behemoth, has unveiled intentions to launch 30 new establishments annually in the United Kingdom as part of an aggressive expansion strategy. With 574 existing locations in the UK, the company disclosed plans to commence this rollout next year, focusing primarily on self-operated sites rather than franchises.
This decision comes amidst robust sales performance, despite facing what Burger King terms as a challenging economic environment. Recent financial results show a positive trend in the business, with signs of improvement and a slowdown in inflation noted. However, the company highlighted the impact of financial pressures on consumers and increased costs attributed to last year’s budget on the UK hospitality sector.
Alasdair Murdoch, the CEO of Burger King UK, mentioned concerns about rising labor costs and softer consumer sentiment despite food and utility cost inflation stabilizing. In a strategic move earlier this year, Burger King collaborated with renowned chef Gordon Ramsay to introduce an exclusive £11 wagyu burger.
The firm reported strong trading in 2025, exceeding $1 billion in system-wide sales in the UK. Additionally, Burger King UK extended its franchise rights to the Republic of Ireland for the first time, expanding its growth prospects. Financially, the company disclosed revenue growth of 7% to £408.3 million in 2024, with underlying profits increasing by 12% to £26 million, attributed to disciplined cost management practices.
Mr. Murdoch expressed satisfaction with the solid performance and strategic advancements made by Burger King UK in 2024. Despite facing economic challenges and sector-specific cost pressures, the company achieved revenue growth, positive like-for-like sales, and enhanced underlying EBITDA through prudent cost controls and operational focus.