Best fast food franchises to open in the UK

The QSR industry is highly popular in the UK, with 15% of the British public buying fast food at least once a week. This demand has created a market worth £22 billion, according to Statista. Below you’ll find the latest fast food franchises hoping to capitalise on this demand, with you at the helm.

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Fast food franchise opportunity: what you need to know

Why choose a fast food franchise?

Running a quick service restaurant can be profitable in the UK. The current market is worth £22 billion, according to Statista, with 15% of the population buying fast food on a weekly basis.

The franchise brands on offer in the QSR sector vary massively in terms of cuisines but often the common trend is to serve up low-cost, easy-to-cook food which can be served up quickly and in large volumes. The low prices and convenience is often what attracts an established customer base.

Although the fast food sector experienced a market dip during the pandemic, it exceeded pre-pandemic growth in 2023 and this incline is expected to continue into 2025.

Types of fast food franchise businesses

Dessert franchises

An increasing number of consumers are opting to dine out for dessert or order a premium sweet treat in. As a result, the chilled desserts market experienced a big increase in market value between December 2007 to 2022, where is was valued at £906 million, according to Statista.

There a big nationwide names in the dessert franchise arena which are currently looking to take on UK-based franchisees. These include Kaspa’s Desserts (total investment: £250,000+ ), Yolé (total investment: £200,000) and Amorino (total investment: £280,000+).

There are also up and coming brands who have established a decent sized franchise network are looking to expand further across the UK. These include The Urban Chocolatier (total investment: £150,000+) and Treatz Desserts (total investment: £175,000)

Some dessert brands have also done well in capturing the grab-and-go concept, which can be particularly fruitful in high footfall areas such as shopping centres. Auntie Anne’s (total investment: £140,000+) is a long-term champion in this space, and The Knot Churros has also recently adapted its business model to kiosk format to also capitalise here (total investment: £70,000).

East Asian cuisine franchises

Data shows British consumers are big fans of Asian flavours. Nearly half (48%) of the population rate Chinese cuisine as their favourite take-away, according to research from YouGov. Meanwhile, Japanese cuisine ranks in the top ten, according to Statista.

Franchise brands, such as Chop & Wok (total investment: £130,000 ), Wok to Walk (total investment: £256,000), and Gourmet Sushi (total investment: £37,900+) have all developed menus which lend themselves to QSR concepts. It means that franchisees are able to serve large volumes of customers, through their dine-in experience as well as via delivery services.

Burger and chicken franchises

The burger and chicken restaurant market was estimated to reach £7.3 billion in the UK in 2022. Plus, when surveyed, 68% of British consumers said they’d eaten in or taken away from a burger and chicken food service outline in the past three months, according to Mintel.

This is one of the most popular fast-food cuisines for franchise opportunities, with plenty of choice.

Big brand names such as McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Nandos, and Chicken Cottage (total investment: £150,000) are constantly looking for new franchisees to expand their global networks.

Meanwhile, there has been a recent home-grown burger boom which has led to active franchise opportunities with Burger Drop (total investment: £174,000), Black Rooster Peri Peri (total investment: £150,000+), Smoke & Pepper (total investment: £166,000+), Amigos Burger and Shakes (total investment: £200,000+), and URBAN Fresh Burgers & Fries (total investment: £290,000).

There are also international players also looking to find the right franchisees to bring their brand to the UK. For example, Fat Phill’s (total investment: £200,000) has established a string of successful QSR restaurants in Amsterdam and is now working on bringing that concept to the UK – having signed a master franchise deal with the same company behind Auntie Anne’s UK success.

Grab and go café franchises

The grab and go take-away concept is also popular among café businesses – which aim to tap into lunchtime crowds. However, we’re seeing brands expand beyond this mid-day offering, by providing customers with sandwich and cake options throughout the entire day.

A good example is international brand Paris Baguette (minimum investment: £500,000) – which has seen widespread success in many parts of the world and is now looking to set up shop in the UK. Subway is another example of a grab and go concept that has been expanding across the UK.

Big names and familiar dishes

Any roundup of the largest and most popular franchises will be dominated by the food sector, with instantly recognisable global brand names notable within almost every top 10 list. Fast food franchises make up a large percentage of all franchise operations and are one of the most popular business models as they have a strong and well-established record of success.

Consumers seek out branded fast food chains because of the consistency of experience they provide. Instead of taking a risk and trying an unknown café or restaurant, customers are attracted to more familiar options as they feel they can trust the quality of the food and service before they even walk through the door. They are also influenced by already knowing the menu, prices, opening hours, and in many cases, even the restaurant franchise layout they can expect from a particular brand.

Read more about the biggest fast food franchise in the world

This also makes fast food franchises a popular option with franchisees, as they come with proven demand. Establishing the reputation and building the customer base of a newly opened independent restaurant can take years, with many failing to ever get off the ground. In contrast, despite a new franchised restaurant being untested, it will be recognised and trusted by an already established customer base from day one, based on the brand’s familiarity and reputation.

Similar models, different tastes

Potential franchisees entering the food and beverage sector have a huge variety of business options to choose from. Food franchising is a diverse sector - from coffee shops, juice bars, and ice cream kiosks to fast food outlets, fine dining establishments and quick-service restaurants that include burger and pizza places, the industry offers a wide range of opportunities to choose from.

5 lesser-known fast food franchises that you should know about

The high street snack and restaurant options available are becoming increasingly diverse and international, with both healthy and indulgent offerings from every corner of the world. While fast food has been extremely popular for many years, the recent trend for healthier options has inspired a new influx of smoothie and juice bars and natural, organic and vegan restaurants.

The latest trends in the franchised food and drink sector

From big brand fast food restaurants to more niche wholefood cafés, the franchise models offered will be similar, usually comprising a turnkey package. From selecting the right location (which is crucial to the success of food outlets) to designing the site and assisting with planning the grand opening, franchisees are given the keys to their new restaurant and step-by-step instructions to ensure the success of their new business following a tried-and-tested methodology that is known to succeed.

Food businesses operate within a heavily regulated industry, which can be disconcerting for first-time restaurant owners. While the health and safety requirements can seem confusing and off-putting, opening a franchise means you have expert advice from experienced restaurateurs to ensure compliance, all included as part of your franchise package.

Comprehensive training and support

While operating a successful fast food franchise requires business skills, staff management and practical aptitude, franchisees receive significant support from franchisors in establishing and running their business.

Food industry franchisors offer comprehensive operating systems and manuals covering every aspect of running the business from making the food to hiring the staff, and they also offer in-depth training. This training can last anywhere from days to months, and usually includes hands-on training in another franchise pre-launch, which is a great way for franchisees to really learn the business and be ready to hit the ground running in their own store. For anyone new to the industry, the real-world experience available can also provide peace of mind that entering the food sector is the right choice before launching their own business.

Other aspects of training covered include marketing, advertising and promoting the business effectively – all key skills for anyone entering the food and drink industry for the first time. The support provided does not disappear when the new business opens. Franchisors are available for intensive ongoing support during the first few months of business and continue to offer tools and resources to help with any issues or problems further down the line. Each franchise operation’s success is the franchisor’s success, so it’s in their interest to make sure the new business flourishes.

High investment, high returns

While the initial costs of opening a food franchise can seem relatively high, the rewards make them worthwhile.

Restaurants, fast food outlets and cafés tend to demand a high initial investment due to the equipment and real estate required to start the business. In the case of franchises, the bigger the franchisor’s brand, the higher that investment is likely to be, but that cost is offset by the strong reputation and instant customer base that comes with the name, meaning the business starts earning from the very first day of trading.

While the investment level or franchise fee may be high, franchisees have full knowledge of these costs upfront, which prevents any nasty surprises and allows them to be budgeted for correctly. Margins in the food industry can be relatively low, but franchisees also benefit from the improved buying power that being part of a larger brand can offer, reducing the cost of food and equipment purchases. With the costs and potential revenue clearly presented by the franchisor, food franchisees usually find it relatively easy to secure financing to launch their business, as the franchising model is familiar to lenders and comparative costs and revenue projections can be offered from similar franchise outlets within the brand group.

Food franchising also offers a scalable business opportunity. Many franchisees grow from a single-unit to multi-unit business relatively quickly, shifting from hands-on operation of a single outlet to a pure management role covering several stores. This lucrative growth could theoretically be limited by the availability of additional territories, but most franchisors encourage multi-unit ownership and will actively assist in finding alternative locations to add to the franchisee’s business portfolio.

Is food franchising right for you?

There is no doubt that launching and managing a food franchise can be a rewarding business that delivers consistent, reliable revenue to the owner within an easily scalable business model to suit the more ambitious entrepreneur. However, food franchising almost always involves a great deal of hands-on management to get up and running, with long hours and complete commitment required to ensure a successful outcome.

Best fast food franchises to own

High initial investment and high overheads can be off-putting to some potential franchisees, though those who fully commit usually receive equally high returns. The increasing popularity of food franchises over the years means that the current franchise models available are tried and trusted, and the franchise owner can weight up the costs and potential returns relatively accurately.

Franchisors offer turnkey packages making the fast food restaurant launch simple and straightforward, and the bigger the brand, the wider the instant customer base provided as soon as the doors open.

If you have a passion for good food, enjoy interacting with both the general public and staff and have experience in running a business, a food franchise could be the right choice for you. With so many franchise opportunities available within the food and beverage sector, you are sure to find the perfect match for your skills, resources and tastes.