Fast food giant KFC is launching its new Chester Drive Thru next Wednesday (August 26).
Staff are busy training for the opening of the unit which fronts Sealand Road, alongside Next, but is accessible from Greyhound Park Road.
The restaurant features 110 indoor seats and 48 outdoor seats. The city’s original KFC in Foregate Street has now closed.
It will be open 10am until 11pm seven-days-a-week with the Drive Thru itself closing at 10pm. There will be an official launch on Saturday August 29 with face-painting, balloons and flyers with KFC offers.
Operations manager Chris Bagguley said the KFC would be a welcome addition to the retail park offering the full KFC menu.
He commented: “Come and try us. It’s an amazing environment – the most up-to-date and energy efficient building.”
Loyalty card
Mr Bagguley said customers were encouraged to sign up to the Colonel’s Club loyalty card. People register online and each time they make a purchase they gain points towards claiming free food and drink rewards.
There have been some concerns around the litter that will be generated, but Chris commented: “We’ve got bins and staff that will work out of the lobby. We don’t foresee any issues and if there are any, we’ll fix them.”
The new KFC employs 60 people including 40 new recruits. Interest in the new jobs has been significant with more than 400 job applications received.
Stuart Gall, who ran the KFC city centre outlet in Foregate Street, has the contract to run the new out-of-town franchise.
The latest unit is located on what was part of the car park serving Next and the disused exterior of a former garden centre.
Land owners Standard Life UK Retail Park Trust Ltd gained planning consent for the 278 sq metres unit last November. The victorious applicants argued the new ‘pod’ would improve the presence of the retail park and provide ‘another drive-thru’ restaurant – existing outlets are McDonald’s and Costa.
