KFC is increasing its investment in British chicken, pledging to spend almost £100m a year on British chicken as it increases domestic sourcing across its menu.
The move comes as the food industry faces increasing pressure to strengthen UK supply chains while improving welfare standards in livestock production.
By the end of 2026, 35% of the chicken sold by KFC UK and Ireland will come from British farms, bringing the total domestic supply to 82,700 tonnes a year.
The increase follows the decision to source chicken wings from British farmers for the first time, adding one of the brand’s most popular products to its UK supply base.
To support this change, KFC is increasing its annual spend on British chicken by around £10 million by extending its long-standing partnership with 2 Sisters Food Group, one of the UK’s largest chicken processors, taking its total annual investment to almost £100 million.
Wings are a key part of KFC’s range, with more than 164 million sold in the UK last year – the equivalent of more than five every second. As consumption of fried chicken continues to increase, demand is expected to grow further.
Only boneless chicken will continue to be sourced from overseas, as UK producers currently cannot supply enough chicken breast to meet consumer demand.
KFC said that as well as strengthening its sourcing in the UK, it was also raising welfare standards across its UK supply base.
All British chicken meat offered by KFC is now housed at a maximum stocking density of 30kg per square meter, giving birds 20% more space than industry standards and providing farms with additional sunlight and nutrients.
The company says all its UK chicken comes from farms that meet independently verified standards and is provided through partnerships with suppliers including 2 Sisters Food Group and Pilgrim’s Europe.
Mark Hayes, Wow! Chief Supply Chain Officer for Europe said: “At KFC we want to support British farmers and are always looking for opportunities to increase our UK sourcing in a balanced and sustainable way.”
He added that the decision reflected cooperation with suppliers at a difficult time for the sector, with “supply under pressure due to the avian influenza outbreak amid rising demand”.
Mr Hayes said KFC “all of our British chicken is [is] Now they can be housed in 20% more space than the industry average. ”
2 Sisters Food Group Managing Director Ranjit Singh said the increase in procurement represented a “positive and significant investment in the future of British agriculture”.
He said the measures would ensure UK farmers were supported to produce poultry that met consumer expectations and high welfare standards, and underlined the long-term nature of the partnership.
The investment highlights the growing influence of major food brands in shaping supply resilience and welfare standards in the UK poultry industry.
