Sphera Franchise Group, a prominent fast-food chain operator, has announced the launch of a new KFC restaurant in the southeastern city of Buzau, Romania.
According to SeeNews, the new outlet has received a €1.5 million ($1.65 million) investment from the company.
The eatery, equipped with a drive-thru option, operates 24 hours a day.
With a staff of 45, it has 90 indoor and outdoor seats.
The opening of this KFC drive-thru represents the 27th unit launched by the company in Romania and completes its expansion plans for 2023.
Sphera Franchise Group, with a workforce of 5,000 employees, manages over 170 restaurants, encompassing KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell establishments in Romania, Italy, and Moldova.
In November 2022, KFC announced the opening of its 1,000th store in the central and eastern European region.
The milestone restaurant was opened in Bucharest, Romania, featuring modern kiosks, digitized drive-throughs, updated e-commerce platforms, and data-informed artificial intelligence.
As part of its global expansion strategy, KFC aims to open 100 stores each year.
In September 2023, Sphera Franchise Group inaugurated a KFC at Carolina Mall in Alba Iulia, Romania – the 101st in the country – as part of a pledge to invest €500,000 ($543,250).
In December 2023, the KFC division signed an agreement to buy 218 restaurants from EG Group, the largest KFC franchise in the UK and Ireland.
The deal will be completed by summer 2024.
KFC, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, operates more than 29,000 restaurants in 150 countries and territories worldwide.