Raising Cane’s: KFC rival and TikTok sensation to open in the UK

Thursday 04 September 2025 12:01 am
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Wednesday 03 September 2025 1:05 pm

Elevating Cane’s, the US quick meals large which has change into a sensation on TikTok, has confirmed plans to open its first UK location subsequent 12 months.

The enterprise is to launch its flagship website at 21-22 Coventry St in London’s West Finish in direction of the top of 2026. A precise opening date has but to be introduced.

The placement is deliberate to be the primary of as much as 5 preliminary entries contained in the capital and throughout the UK which it hopes to open within the months following.

The positioning chosen is a former Angus Steakhouse restaurant and is positioned between PiccadillyCircus and Leicester Sq..

Elevating Cane’s was based underneath 1996 by now-billionaire Todd Graves and Craig Silvey.

The enterprise is called after Graves’s canine, a yellow Labrador, and has greater than 950 places throughout the US, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Elevating Cane’s turned over $1.5bn (£1.1bn) throughout its newest monetary 12 months and employs greater than 65,000 individuals.

In Might, Bloomberg reported that Graves’ fortune now stands at $11.5bn because of rising gross sales at his model.

Lately, the model has discovered fame on TikTok and has amassed greater than 5 million followers whereas gaining assist from the likes of Snoop Dogg and Publish Malone.

Rumours of Elevating Cane’s opening its first UK website first emerged on TikTok in direction of the beginning of 2025 after the enterprise registered a brand new entity with Firms Home.

The corporate is at present hiring for a president of its new UK arm who will oversee the enterprise operations and assist centre features from a London-based workplace.

Elevating Cane’s hails ‘unbelievable demand’

Elevating Cane’s co-CEO and COO AJ Kumaran, mentioned: “Bringing Elevating Cane’s to the UK has been a dream of ours for a few years and we’re excited to formally open the doorways to our UK flagship late subsequent 12 months.

“We love the colourful and eclectic environment of Piccadilly Circus and are wanting ahead to marking this milestone with a flagship within the coronary heart of London.

“With greater than 950 eating places throughout the US and Center East, Europe presents a wonderful growth alternative as we embark on this subsequent section of development, and we’re excited to start that development with the UK.”

Graves added: “Once I began Elevating Cane’s 29 years in the past, I by no means imagined we’d develop to the place we’re immediately as we announce our growth into the UK with the opening of our UK flagship in iconic Piccadilly Circus.

“The demand from our prospects and followers within the UK has been unbelievable and I can’t wait to point out London what we’re all about.”

US large to face stiff competitors

Whereas absolutely established within the US and Center East, Elevating Cane’s will face powerful competitors when it tries to achieve a foothold within the UK subsequent 12 months.

That rivalry will solely change into extra intense after KFC introduced a £1.5bn plan in Might to create greater than 7,000 jobs within the UK and Eire over the following 5 years and open an extra 500 eating places by 2035.

On the time, KFC mentioned £466m will go in direction of opening new places specializing in constructing flagship websites and drive-thrus in “key places” resembling Eire and North West England.

A part of that determine can even be spent on upgrading greater than 200 current KFC eating places – 20 per cent of the model’s property.

KFC mentioned its plans to create greater than 7,000 jobs over the following 5 years will see it make investments £583m.

The model added that it’ll spend £404m to “strengthen KFC’s long-standing relationships with its suppliers and assist companies throughout the UK&I proceed to develop”.

At the beginning of 2025, fast-growing chains Wingstop and Popeyes every introduced main plans to increase additional throughout the UK and create 1000’s of jobs.

Popeyes’ proposals included nearly doubling its footprint within the UK with the opening of greater than 45 eating places.

It added that it expects to create round 2,500 jobs and it’ll goal gross sales of greater than £200m in 2025.

On the similar time, the UK franchise of rooster chain Wingstop introduced plans to open no less than 20 new websites within the UK this 12 months, creating a whole lot of jobs.

The proposals got here a month after Wingstop’s UK arm was taken over by a US personal fairness agency, for greater than £400m.