KITCHEN CLOSED
Fast food chain with more than 1,000 UK stores closes high street restaurant for good
Local fans shared their thoughts on the shock news
A HUGE fast food chain has shut one of its locations in a major town centre for good.
Local fans of the restaurant giant have been left heartbroken by the sad and sudden news.
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A KFC location in Huddersfield town centre closed its doors for the last time earlier this week.
Customers at the New Street branch were met with the sad news this location would shut last week, according to .
A note in the window confirmed the restaurant would close, but it initially said its last day was on January 19.
But the Huddersfield restaurant closed earlier than fans expected.
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Local fast food lovers have been directed to other nearby KFC stores on Marsh and Leeds Road.
A KFC spokesperson said: “We’re constantly reviewing our portfolio of over 1,000 restaurants across the UK, and at times, this sadly means we have to close some."
"KFC fans can still enjoy our delicious fried chicken at our nearby Westbourne Road, Leeds Road and Wakefield Road restaurants, which are just a few minutes away.”
Staff at the shuttered location have reportedly been relocated to nearby KFC restaurants.
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Local fried chicken lovers were left heartbroken by the news and were worried about the dramatic changes in their town centre.
One person : "So sad to see so much closing down in Huddersfield.
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"I used to go every week just for a wander round but not worth going any more."
Another wrote: "Another shop to close in Huddersfield very soon there will be nothing left.
"A once thriving town."
KFC did not give a reason for the closure.
KFC also closed a solo stores in Felixstowe last year.
A string of 13 KFC branches permanently closed last year after its franchise holder entered administration.
Weymouth, Maidstone, Crayford and Bournemouth sites were among those affected.
Among 53 KFC outlets owned by Caskade, administrator Begbies Traynor said 40 of these restaurants were bought by another franchise, Adil Group.
KFC is owned by Yum! Brands, the company behind Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
It has over 1,000 restaurants in the UK and some are franchises.
In a franchise model, a business sells a licence to a third-party (franchisee) to trade under the brand name.
Franchises are separate legal entities, which means their owners have freedom to do things like set pay and conditions for their employees.
Some retailers and chain have closed a few branches here and there for various reasons, like when a store lease has come to an end.
Other examples of one-off rather than widespread closures include if there are changes in the area, like a shopping centre closing, and in some cases a branch will close to relocate to another area.
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
Some chains have faced tougher conditions though, forcing them to shut dozens of stores, or all of them in the worst case.
KFC owner Yum Brands saw profits grow 3% year-on-year for the third quarter, according to its latest financial information published in November.
Despite challenges like consumer spending less KFC International and Taco Bell US were the biggest drivers of growth.
KFC International, which include 64 countries, grew 9%.
The latest closure has not been the only major retail blow to hit Huddersfield's high street.
Next, which runs around 500 UK branches, will close its store in the town later this year, The Sun has reported.
The branch in the Kingsgate Centre will shut in July when the lease on the space expires.
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A spokesperson for Next confirmed the closure: "The lease on the Kingsgate Centre Next store comes to an end in July, when it will the close.
"All staff affected are already aware of the situation."
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