Wasabi founder brings Korea's Pelicana chicken brand to UK

By Joe Lutrario

- Last updated on GMT

South Korean fried chicken brand Pelicana to enter UK market

Related tags Pelicana Fried chicken Dong Hyun Kim Wasabi Kineya Fast casual restaurant London Multi-site QSR Casual dining

Wasabi founder Dong Hyun Kim is set to rapidly expand South Korean fried chicken brand Pelicana in the capital following the acquisition of four sites.

The first of these will open in Hammersmith Broadway Shopping Centre on 14 April followed by sites in Angel, Wimbledon and Clapham Junction. 

Pelicana has over 2,000 locations in South Korea and also operates a number of sites outside the country in locations including Mainland China, Malaysia and the US. 

Key products include various types of coated deep-fried bone-in chicken - including regular, seasoned chicken, garlic chicken and hot chilli chicken - boneless chicken and wings. 

Kim has the UK master franchise agreement for Pelicana and will announce long term expansion plans ‘in due course’.

Pelicana arrives on these shores at a time of significant activity in the fried chicken market.

Philippines-founded chain Jollibee currently has four UK sites and is planning to open up to 10 more this year as part of a £30m expansion drive,​ while Boparan Restaurant Group is continuing to expand its Slim Chickens brand. 

US fried chicken brand Popeyes is also making its UK debut this year​ and hopes to open as many as 350 sites on these shores. 

Pelicana also arrives at a busy time for Kim, with the Korean-born entrepreneur having also recently acquired the UK master franchise agreement for the udon noodle-focused Kineya.  

Kineya at St. Pancras will re-open on 12 April to provide both table service and takeaway to customers. There are four further Kineya sites planned for this year in Cambridge, Ealing, Hammersmith and Richmond. 

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