EXCLUSIVE: Why the sky's the limit for KFC's UK airport plans

Following the opening of the first UK airside KFC outlet at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 3, QSR Media talked with Rene-Paul Haas, Director Concepts and Marketing for HMSHost International, to discuss the recent launch.

QSR Media: Do you have plans for further KFC airport outlets?

Both KFC as well as HMSHost have the ambition to further grow the number of KFC restaurants in airports together.

QSR Media: Why did you think KFC was a good fit for the airport?

We considered a gap in the overall offering in T3 taking the travellers profiles into consideration. Aside from this, the number of F&B outlets in T3 have come to their maximum capacity. When an opportunity for extra square meters dedicated to Food & Beverage came across, we matched customer demand with the newly developed contemporary urban KFC format.

QSR Media: How busy do you expect this site to be vs. your other brands at the airport?

With the constant growth of number of travellers in the airport and T3, alongside the increased demand for freshly prepared qualitative food, we consider KFC a very welcome addition to our food and drinks offer in T3. Consequently, we think this will also increase the number of travellers that will take their time to have a meal and snack before their flight departure.

QSR Media: Have you tweaked the menu in any way to cater for the airport crowd?

We have streamlined our menu to offer a faster experience, but it is more or less based on other travel locations of a KFC.

QSR Media: Will customers be able to take their KFC on board?

Yes, certainly! Our KFC menu offer and packaging is geared towards the needs of travellers who would like to take away their food and who will enjoy it at a later stage.

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