Burger King, a leading fast-food chain, has unveiled its strategy to open 30 new locations annually in the UK to fuel its rapid growth. The company, currently operating 574 restaurants in the UK, intends to kick off this expansion from the upcoming year, focusing on self-operated outlets rather than franchises.
Despite facing economic challenges, Burger King reported robust sales, indicating a positive trend in its business operations with a slowdown in inflation. However, the company acknowledged the financial strain on consumers and increased costs due to the previous year’s Budget impact on the UK hospitality industry.
Alasdair Murdoch, the CEO of Burger King UK, highlighted the industry’s challenges, including rising labor costs and softer consumer sentiment, despite the return of food and utility costs to normal levels. In a strategic move, Burger King collaborated with renowned chef Gordon Ramsay in September to introduce an £11 wagyu burger.
The company disclosed its strong financial performance in 2025, surpassing $1 billion (£748 million) 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.
In its financial report for the previous year, Burger King announced a 7% increase in revenues to £408.3 million in 2024, coupled with a 12% rise in underlying profits to £26 million, attributed to disciplined cost management practices.
Mr. Murdoch expressed satisfaction with the company’s performance in 2024, citing revenue growth, positive like-for-like sales, and enhanced underlying EBITDA despite the challenging economic environment and sector-specific cost pressures.