Six months on from its big UK launch in Shaftsbury Avenue, Dave’s Hot Chicken is looking to open seven new locations by the end of the week.
At the recent UKHospitality Summer Conference in London, Steve Holmes CEO of Azzurri Group said that the first of these new sites will open in Birmingham in three weeks time followed by Manchester.
Dave’s Hot Chicken was acquired by Roark Capital earlier this year before securing a franchise agreement with Azzurri Group and making its UK debut in December of 2024. The brand operates over 300 sites globally with plans to open 60 sites in the UK over the next seven years.
Holmes said: “We had queues at the London site for three or four months after opening, the volumes are still phenomenal. Dave’s gave us an opportunity to move into a new segment with a younger consumer, a fast growing part of the market and a different proposition.
It’s also a place where young people can go to socialise as they’re drinking less.”
Alongside Dave’s, Azzurri Group operates restaurant groups like ASK Italian, Zizzi and Coco Di Mama.
Holmes emphasised that the group will continue to grow its existing core brands.
It’s easy to grow by opening new sites but we’re very focused on our core estate and same store like for like growth. It costs a lot just to maintain that core estate.”
