Fried chicken sales rise

Fried chicken sales have been steadily increasing as it now makes up 4% of the eating out market in the UK. It has increased at a much larger rate than other fast foods operating in the sector.

Whilst the takeout owners claim they do nothing wrong - they aren't forcing anyone to eat in their restaurants - the local councils think otherwise and are beginning to impose taxes to limit the number of fast food outlets in any given area.

Whilst the obvious concern linked to fast food is obesity, one council in Greater Manchester states that it is more about the appearance and character of a location - streets are becoming full of fast food outlets, take-away and quick service restaurants.

The fried chicken market is booming, and there is no shortage in competition to match this. Some fried chicken outlets in central London have reported as many as six competitors in a minutes walk from their own store.

KFC - one of the most popular fried chicken outlets and arguably the first one of its kind - entered the UK in 1965 and since then has opened 300 stores in various locations, with plans to open nearly 40 more in 2011. KFC certainly see the industry as moving in positive direction if they plan to increase their store count by over 10% in a single year.

Walking down The Curry Mile in Rusholme, Manchester, you'll find a wide array of fried chicken outlets amongst the curry houses and burger bars - Kentucky Friend Chicken, Tennessee Fried Chicken, Texas Dixie, Southern Friend Chicken, McTuckys, Krispy Fried Chicken - the list is endless, and consists largely of imitators of the famous KFC abbreviation.

Whilst the supermarkets pledge to reduce the fat and salt content of their produce, the same cannot be said for many of the fast food outlets in the UK. Whilst Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons all stock '30% lower fast cheese', the fast food outlets still coat their fried chicken in fat and salt. What is perhaps more concerning is that the supermarkets also sell chicken wings, yet these contain a fifth of the salt content that a fried chicken wing on the go may contain.

As many fried chicken store owners may state - fried chicken cannot be held responsible for obesity. This can come from overall bad nutrition and lack of exercise, and not just from consuming fried chicken. KFC was also keen to point out that it has invested time and money into reducing the fat and salt content of its chicken - the subject of criticism however is more the small businesses, who are proving to be less willing to change their popular recipe.

As the fried chicken market grows, so will the suppliers of chicken to the restaurants. Ranjit Singh Boparan, the owner of 2 sisters food group who supplies poultry products to many of the fried chciekn outlets, will certainly be benefiting from the growing market, as more and more chicken is required to feed a hungry nation.