KFC is set to increase its annual expenditure on British chicken to nearly £100m ($136m), as it steps up domestic sourcing for its UK & Ireland operations, according to a report on FarmingUK.
The move comes against a backdrop of pressure on food businesses to reinforce UK supply chains and address welfare in livestock production.
By the end of this year, 35% of the chicken sold by KFC in the UK and Ireland is expected to come from British farms, lifting domestic supply to around 82,700 metric tonnes a year.
The higher spend is driven largely by a decision to source chicken wings from British farmers for the first time, adding one of KFC’s most popular products to its UK supply base.
More than 164 million wings were sold by KFC in the UK last year, which is equivalent to more than five every second.
KFC will raise its annual outlay on British chicken by £10m to enable the shift, bringing total yearly spending close to £100m.
The change is being implemented through an expanded partnership with UK-based poultry processor 2 Sisters Food Group.
However, KFC plans to import boneless chicken, as it noted that the UK producers are currently unable to supply sufficient chicken breast to meet customer demand.
Alongside the increase in UK sourcing, KFC is also raising welfare standards across its British poultry supply chain.
All British chicken served by the company is now reared at a maximum stocking density of 30kg per square metre, which gives birds 20% more space than the industry standard.
KFC added that all British-sourced chicken comes from farms that meet independently verified standards, supported through relationships with suppliers, including 2 Sisters Food Group and Pilgrim’s Europe.
2 Sisters Food Group president Ranjit Singh said the increased sourcing represented “a positive and important investment in the future of UK agriculture”.
He said the move would support British farmers in producing poultry that meets consumer expectations and high welfare standards, highlighting the long-term nature of the partnership.
