Correction, October 27, 2026: This article originally ran under the headline “Chick-fil-A's $1 Billion International Bet: Can the Owner-Operator Model Work Overseas?” We have removed its unverified $1 billion commitment through 2030 and its unsupported projection of $3 million–$5 million in annual sales per overseas restaurant. We also corrected the licensed-site conversion plan, which spans several years and excludes airports, and the descriptions of US operator compensation and restaurant limits. We withdrew the description of Leeds as the first permanent UK opening and removed unsupported financial comparisons and claims about competitive and cultural effects. The original March 24, 2026 publication date is preserved.
Chick-fil-A's UK expansion plan combined two operating models. The September 2024 announcement included both licensed restaurants and restaurants run by local franchise owner-operators. One route puts an individual operator in charge of the daily restaurant business; the other is offered to foodservice providers.
Who runs the restaurant#
The UK plan assigned local operators responsibility for daily business activities, including hiring and developing staff. It described them as independent business owners actively involved in their restaurants. Separately, it offered licensing opportunities to foodservice providers at university campuses, airports, healthcare facilities and business and industry venues. The same announcement named Belfast, Leeds, Liverpool and London as planned locations.
The company's October 20, 2025 profile of Mike Hoy described the experience he brought to the local operator role. Hoy grew up in London and had worked at Burger King in Switzerland, launched Tim Hortons in Thailand and Scotland, and served as a Nando's UK partner. Chick-fil-A identified him with the planned Leeds restaurant and described his responsibilities as managing the business and hiring staff.
The profile scheduled the first locally owned and operated UK restaurant, in Leeds, for October 23, 2025. We have not confirmed that it opened on the announced date.
Singapore's reported opening#
Chick-fil-A's December 11, 2025 announcement reported that its Bugis+ restaurant began serving customers that day. The company called it Singapore's first locally owned and operated Chick-fil-A. At opening, it advertised dine-in and takeaway service, Monday through Saturday.
The opening release supplied no sales, operating-margin or operator-compensation figures.
What the US disclosures describe#
The company's 2025 US Operator Program disclosure says traditional restaurant operators lease or sublease their premises from Chick-fil-A. The company acquires most of the equipment. Its profit definition excludes amounts operators pay themselves as compensation from ordinary restaurant expenses. This is a defined fee-and-profit arrangement, rather than a promise of a company-paid salary. These US provisions do not establish the terms of UK or Singapore agreements.
In a January 2024 explanation, Chick-fil-A said a select group of successful operators could operate up to three traditional restaurants. The explanation does not establish eligibility for additional overseas restaurants. Our US operator guide explains the domestic arrangement separately.
A separate licensed-site conversion plan#
The company announced plans to convert many existing licensed restaurants to restaurants led by local owner-operators on December 3, 2025. It described work over several years, with individual locations evaluated alongside licensing partners and campus administrators. Airports were excluded. No 2026 completion deadline was given.
For sites that convert, the stated changes include access to the Chick-fil-A app, loyalty program and gift cards, plus scholarship opportunities for employees.
QSR Pro Staff
The QSR Pro editorial team covers the quick service restaurant industry with in-depth analysis, data-driven reporting, and operator-first perspective.
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