KFC has reopened 11 restaurants around the UK and is working to bring more branches back into business as the lockdown continues.
The chicken chain closed all of its UK restaurants when the UK announced a nationwide lockdown to protect the public and key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
But with food takeaway and delivery businesses permitted to open during the recently extended lockdown, KFC has re-opened 11 of its UK restaurants, but only for delivery customers who order through Deliveroo.
None of the re-opened KFCs are in the North East, but a spokesperson told ChronicleLive : "We’re looking at additional restaurants to open over the next few weeks – but if we can’t do it responsibly – we won’t do it all."
The spokesperson added: "Over the last week, we’ve reopened 11 of our restaurants in the UK. They’re open for delivery only and are serving a limited menu, operated by fewer team members with new procedures in place to help ensure we’re following social distancing guidelines.
"There’s still a need for affordable, accessible food at this time - so we want to do our part.
"We’ve also donated thousands of meals from all our open restaurants to those on the frontline, including the NHS and key workers, in partnership with Deliveroo, and will continue to do so each week whilst the situation continues.”
KFC has reopened branches in Heaton Chapel, Manchester; New Oscott, Birmingham; Hulme, Manchester; Portsmouth; Aldershot; Cardinal Park Ipswich; Pollockshaws Road, Glasgow; Great Western Retail Park, Glasgow; Coliseum Retail Park, Enfield, London; and Deansgate, Manchester.
KFC says returning staff are working on an 'opt-in basis' and only those who can travel without public transport have been asked to come back.
Employees are working in designated 'working zones' which are 2 metres apart and mapped out using tape.
