Sun, 08 Feb 2026

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 How Britain became a fried chicken nation

An internet craze for American-style chicken has come to the UK, but what does it mean for traditional chippies?
The customers tend to be young, with 52% of Gen Z fast food consumers and 47% of millennial fast food consumers reporting having eaten from a chicken shop in the past year, compared with 39% of all fast food consumers. Part of chicken's appeal is that it's a cheaper protein than other meats. The trend has forced many traditional fish and chip shops to diversify, with some shutting their doors altogether. There were roughly 25,000 UK fish and chip shops in the 1920s and 30s, but that number has now dropped to about 9,000, according to the National Federation of Fish Fryers (NFFF). However, not every business pivoting to fried chicken is a guaranteed winner. Meaningful Vision's chief executive Maria Vanifatova says the market is "very crowded" and cautions that the advertising muscle and buying power of large chains makes it harder for smaller outfits to succeed. Despite this, some independent chicken shops are thriving, such as Ragin' Bird in Leicester, which has seen an increase in customers since the rise of large fried chicken chains. Owner Wasim Hussain says the hype surrounding the big brands has "helped me" and brought attention to his own business. Fans of US-style fried chicken say it's here to stay, with digital creator Till saying she'll always eat fried chicken, regardless of trends. The trend is expected to continue this year, with analysts predicting a continued rise in the popularity of chicken shops.
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