Sphera Franchise Group, the largest foodservice operator in Romania, is expanding its presence in Iași by inaugurating KFC Mall Moldova, the third KFC restaurant in the city.
„Iași is one of the country’s major cities and equally important to us, with an audience that has resonated very well with our brand over the years. Therefore, it was a natural step to open another unit here. Beyond our growth objectives, we are happy to be able to contribute to the economy of the area by creating jobs and closer partnerships with local suppliers. The results so far in the Moldova area give us confidence that the investment decision was the right one, and we anticipate a promising future development”, stated Marian Gogu, General Manager, KFC Romania.
KFC Mall Moldova benefited from an investment of approximately 600,000 euro and is equipped at the latest design and technology standards.
The unit features first-of-its-kind innovations to streamline the order preparation and delivery process. The digital menus are placed above the ordering kiosks to make it easier for customers to view the products’ details.
In the kitchen, the space has been reorganised to increase speed in the product packaging area through the T-line system, which optimizes the workflow.
The new restaurant is located within the latest mall in Iași, Mall Moldova, situated on Șoseaua Păcurari, no. 121, and has an area of 176 sqm. The restaurant is located in the food court area and will operate between 10:00 and 22:00.
Consumers benefit from free refills on soft drinks at the new restaurant. The products can be consumed within the mall, purchased as a takeaway, ordered online through delivery platforms or the Click & Collect function available in the KFC App.
With this new unit, 35 new jobs are generated in the community, from kitchen workers to management positions. According to KFC’s practice, employees have real career opportunities within the company, in 2024, 88% of managers coming from internal promotions. The salary package offered includes a net remuneration exceeding 3,300 lei after the first two months (including basic salary, meal vouchers and various financial incentives), according to KFC policies. Additionally, employees benefit from unrestricted access to an online educational platform with over 750 courses aimed at both professional and personal development.
The opening in Iași represents the second inauguration in 2025 for KFC, after the Drive Thru restaurant in Galați opened in March, which also marked a premiere, being the first KFC equipped with photovoltaic panels. For the current year, the investment plan includes a total budget of 54 million lei intended for the opening of new units, the modernization of others, to maintain the high standards imposed by the franchisor at an international level, and the continuation of investments in digitalization and technology.
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KFC Romania has 109 units, being the largest restaurant network in the country, and has approximately 3,600 employees. The company sources its supplies mainly from the local market – 80% of the procurement budget goes to local producers, 85% of the ingredients are purchased in Romania. The main raw material, chicken, comes in a proportion of 91% from local suppliers.