Global expansion continues as Southern Fried Chicken signs up Martinique & Guadeloupe

Following the successful launch of a master franchise in Dubai in May and in Cayenne earlier this year, leading Quick Service Restaurant brand Southern Fried Chicken continues to expand its global network. The UK based company has now signed a master franchise agreement with a major supermarket chain to open a series of Southern Fried Chicken restaurants in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

According to Southern Fried Chicken President Chris Gibson, the Caribbean region is a particular target for the brand. “Our Cayenne franchise is going incredibly well. There’s not huge competition in the sector for us in the Caribbean islands and consumers love the high quality fresh chicken product as well as the local ‘twist’ we can add to our menus. Most of the large fast food franchises are very prescriptive and won’t allow the same flexibility we offer to cater to local tastes.”

Flexibility is the key to the company’s recent growth, he explains. “Our approach is to work in partnership with our master franchisors; we do everything possible to ensure they succeed with their business, but we also try to work with them to find the best initial investment route, depending on individual ambitions and circumstances. With Martinique & Guadeloupe, for example, there has been a full up-front investment in the master franchise, however we’re so confident in our offering that we can be flexible, allowing would-be master franchisors to initially become franchisees with a commitment to opening three restaurants within two years before making the decision to take on the master. This option is proving to have considerable appeal in some regions and with certain investors. It’s a win-win situation for the investor and for Southern Fried Chicken, and is helping drive our growth in new areas.”

Martinique & Guadeloupe is the latest master franchise to be confirmed in a series of new regions scheduled to open this year.