The circa 70-strong QSR business says it has had “a productive year” and expects to open more sites before 2025 draws to a close.
Chicken Cottage has also announced two senior internal appointments, with Tom Corcoran (pictured above) promoted from group head of operations to chief operating officer and Rahim Naggay stepping up from senior franchise business manager to group operations manager.
The Croydon-based business says the promotions recognise their contribution and that of the wider management team, which has enabled the company to re-establish itself as the halal market leader in fried and grilled chicken.
Improvements across the business include new initiatives in supply chain operations and technological developments in how the company communicates with its franchisees. The result has been enhanced relationships with franchise partners.
It has also evolved its operations model with the addition of ‘store-in-store’ branches in local convenience stores such as Spar and Premier outlets. Chicken Cottage is the first brand in its sector to explore this model.
“Having been at Chicken Cottage for a number of years, it is an honour to be stepping up to COO,” Corcoran says. “It has been an exceptional few months for the business, bringing fresh ideas and new ways of working, and communicating those has really brought benefits to those that are crucial to the success of Chicken Cottage – the franchisees. This is just the start and under my watch we will be looking to continue to add value for all of our franchisees.”
Sadaf Kazi, head of franchise development at Chicken Cottage, says: “Our target was to open 10 stores in the entire year but we have achieved that with one quarter remaining. Having achieved our target, we are well on track to overachieve as we’ve got more store openings scheduled before the year end, while we also have a good pipeline for next year as well.
“This is complemented by integrating the store-in-store concept. We were just doing high streets and kiosks but now we’re opening branches in convenience stores, which differentiates us from other brands.
“We’re moving into the likes of Spar and Premier, and it brings a whole new market.”
The business has also established itself in new territories overseas, building on its existing presence in Kenya. Chicken Cottage has sold the franchise into Pakistan, where it already has three franchise stores operating, and is also set to have a foothold in the UAE and Iraq. The company says it will have four stores in Pakistan by the end of the year.