KFC is making its debut in Norway through an acquisition by the Estonian company Apollo Group. Apollo Group plans to acquire the Norwegian fried chicken chain Fly Chicken, with most of its 19 existing restaurants expected to be converted into KFC outlets. This acquisition marks the first time the American fast-food brand will have a direct presence in the Norwegian market.
Apollo Group intends to invest approximately €20 million in the purchase, conversion of Fly Chicken's restaurants, and the subsequent expansion of the KFC chain in Norway. Fly Chicken, founded in 2018, currently operates 19 locations across major Norwegian cities such as Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, and reported revenue of approximately €14 million in its last financial year, employing over 170 people.
The acquisition is not expected to result in changes for Fly Chicken employees, and its current CEO, Ronny Gjøse, will remain in his role to oversee the conversion and future development of KFC in Norway. Apollo Group, which already operates 38 KFC restaurants in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland, views Norway as an attractive market due to its high purchasing power, stable economy, and developed restaurant-delivery sector, seeing potential for growth in the fried chicken category.
