Boparan to bring Slim Chickens concept to UK
The Boparan Restaurant Group, which owns brands including Ed’s East Diner, Harry Ramsden, Fish Works and Giraffe, has revealed it has partnered with US firm Slim Chickens to bring the fast-casual chicken brand to the UK market.
It said it will be opening its first site in London in spring this year.
Slim Chickens co-founders Tom Gordon and Greg Smart launched the brand 15 years ago. It started in Gordon’s garage and the duo quickly secured their first location, opening in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2003.
The brand now has more than 70 locations across the US, with ambitious growth plans to open a further 600 Stateside restaurants.
The UK menu will feature Slim Chickens’ signature hand-breaded chicken tenders, as well as fresh chicken sandwiches and marinated wings. Everything is cooked to order and served with the Slim Chickens’ homemade sauces.
Tom Crowley, ceo of Boparan Restaurant Group, said the company was “very excited” about bringing the new concept to the UK.
“The founders, Tom and Greg, have created an incredible concept. There is something unique about Slim’s freshly cooked chicken and house sauces, its modern blues music and its awesome hospitality. We believe there is an opportunity in the UK for a ‘better chicken’ brand like Slim’s and we are very excited by what we could achieve together.”
Gordon, co-founder and ceo of Slim Chickens, said: “The Boparan Restaurant Group was a logical choice when it came to choosing a franchise partner, due to its strong operating capability and years of experience in the restaurant industry.”
It has been a difficult year for the 2 Sisters Food Group after Boparan faced the scrutiny of MPs on the House of Commons’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in October, following allegations about food, hygiene and welfare breaches at the company’s West Bromwich plant.
He also faced a backlash after the committee chairman, the Tiverton & Honiton MP Neil Parish, wrote to him calling a gift of Christmas biscuits an “inappropriate gesture”.
