Sphera Franchise Group, the largest group in the food service industry in Romania, expands its regional presence and inaugurates the first KFC restaurant in the municipality of Bălți, marking the brand’s fourth unit in the Republic of Moldova. The new food court unit involved an investment of approximately 650,000 euro and represents the Group’s third inauguration this year.

“We are happy to bring KFC for the first time to the municipality of Bălți and to be closer to consumers in the Republic of Moldova. We want to expand the KFC experience in the local community and continue developing the network in this market. After 18 years of presence in the Republic of Moldova, we continue to see high interest in the brand and we are confident in the growth potential of the market,” said Costică Mișaca, General Manager, KFC Moldova.

The restaurant is located in the food court of the EviMall shopping complex, on Nicolae Iorga Street no. 5, in the municipality of Bălți. The unit has ​​approximately 170 square meters and operates daily between 10:00 and 22:00.

The expansion comes amid solid results recorded by Sphera Franchise Group in the Republic of Moldova. In 2025, the Moldovan market recorded the strongest growth rate within the Group, with sales of 28.3 million lei, representing approximately 1.8% of total sales, up 19.7% compared to the previous year. KFC Moldova operating profit reached 4.4 million lei, while sales in comparable restaurants returned to growth in the fourth quarter of 2025.

“The Republic of Moldova continues to be one of the markets with the best dynamics for our Group. The evolution in recent years confirms the potential of this market and the relevance of our geographical diversification strategy. The investments we make here contribute to the consolidation of Sphera Franchise Group regional presence and allow us to build a balanced portfolio, capable of performing in a constantly changing economic context,” said Călin Ionescu, CEO, Sphera Franchise Group.

The first KFC unit in the Republic of Moldova was inaugurated in December 2008, in the Malldova shopping center in Chișinău, followed by an inline restaurant opened in 2015, also in the capital, while the third unit was inaugurated in September 2024, in Port Mall, Chișinău.

In parallel with the development of the KFC network, Sphera Franchise Group is preparing the entry of the Taco Bell brand on the Republic of Moldova market, with the first unit set to be inaugurated in the second quarter of this year.

In terms of design and technology, the restaurant in Bălți is configured according to the brand’s latest international standards, similar to KFC units in Romania, offering customers multiple ordering and payment options to optimize flow during busy periods.

With the opening of the new unit, the company creates 25 jobs for the local community and indirectly contributes to the development of other economic sectors, including by supplying raw materials from the local market, such as vegetables, soft drinks and packaging.