Sphera Franchise Group marks the beginning of the year by opening the first two KFC restaurants of 2026, a drive-thru restaurant in Bucharest and a food court unit in San Donà di Piave, Province of Venice, Italy. The total investment for the two units amounts to approximately 2.1 million euro, thus strengthening the Group’s expansion strategy in these markets.
The new unit in the Capital is located in the M Park Titan area and is part of the Group’s strategy to consolidate its presence in Bucharest. With this inauguration, the KFC network reaches 32 restaurants in Bucharest, of which nine are Drive Thru, and 111 units nationwide.
“This opening confirms the potential of drive-thru, a strong, multichannel format that increasingly responds to current customers’ needs and allows us to consolidate our position in the Capital. We are pleased to bring the authentic experience of KFC closer to local communities in various neighborhoods of Bucharest, capitalizing on the strong visibility we have in the urban environment and the significant expansion potential that the city still offers,” explained Marian Gogu, General Manager, KFC Romania.
Located on Ilioara Street, no. 54F, Sector 3, the new unit has an area of approximately 350 sq m. The restaurant operates between 09:00 and 21:00 in the first two weeks after opening, and subsequently, all services, including drive-thru and take-away, will be accessible 24/7.
The restaurant’s technological features include digital menu screens, located for the first time in Bucharest, near the ordering kiosks, and free-refill options for soft drinks. Customers can place orders through multiple channels: directly in the restaurant, through the take-away service, directly from the car on the drive-thru line or through online delivery applications.
The new KFC restaurant creates 50 job opportunities in Bucharest, covering various positions – from Kitchen Worker and Cashier to management positions such as Restaurant Director and Assistant Manager. A Crew Member employed full-time can reach a monthly net income of 3,600 lei starting with the third month of collaboration. This income level results from the combination of the basic salary with meal vouchers and bonuses granted according to internal criteria. Previous experience is not mandatory – a positive attitude, motivation and desire for development are priorities.
The second opening, in Italy, takes place in the Province of Venice, where Sphera Franchise Group has inaugurated a new KFC restaurant in a food-court format at the Centro Piave Shopping Center, located on Via Iseo 1, San Donà di Piave. The restaurant has an area of approximately 235 square meters and generates 15 new jobs in the local community.
With this inauguration, KFC reaches 19 units operated by Sphera Franchise Group in Italy, thus strengthening the brand’s presence on the Italian market.
“The expansion of the KFC network in Italy continues at a sustained pace, and the opening of the unit in San Donà di Piave reconfirms the brand’s potential in strategic areas in the northern part of the country. The location in food court areas in shopping centers allows us to be present where customers spend their time dedicated to shopping and to offer them quick and easy access to the KFC products they appreciate“, said Dan Ilie, General Manager, KFC Italy.