Houston TX Hot Chicken Expands Into the UK Market

Houston TX Hot Chicken Makes Its First Move Into International Territory

Houston TX Hot Chicken, the Las Vegas-based fast-casual brand that has rapidly established itself as one of America's fastest-growing hot chicken concepts, has announced its first international expansion through a master franchise agreement with PizzaExpress- one of the most established casual dining operators in the UK and Ireland, with nearly 500 locations across its house of brands. Three HHC locations are set to open in the UK in 2026, with an ambitious plan to scale to 50 locations nationally over the following three years. The partnership pairs HHC's cult-following brand and proven fast-casual model with PizzaExpress's deep operational infrastructure and intimate understanding of the British consumer- a combination both companies are betting will make a genuine impact on the UK's competitive quick-service landscape.

A Partnership Built on Complementary Strengths

The logic behind the HHC and PizzaExpress partnership is straightforward and compelling. HHC brings the product, the brand energy, and the proven fast-casual formula that has driven its domestic success. PizzaExpress brings the market knowledge, the operational infrastructure, and the established relationships with UK consumers that would take a new entrant years to build independently. Brian Simowitz, President of Houston TX Hot Chicken, was direct about why the combination made sense. "No one knows fried chicken better than HHC, and no one knows the UK market better than PizzaExpress, making this the perfect partnership," he said. "We can't wait to fly the coop and land in the UK, bringing something unexpected and exciting to chicken consumers." Paula MacKenzie, Group CEO of PizzaExpress, matched his enthusiasm. "This is chicken unlike you've seen it before," she said, describing HHC as bringing "bold flavor, real energy and an experience that stands apart" to the UK market.

At the centre of HHC's brand identity is a menu built around unapologetically bold flavour and a range of heat levels designed to accommodate everyone from the mildly curious to the genuinely heat-obsessed. The signature Original Hot Chicken Sandwich anchors the lineup, available across multiple spice levels that culminate in "Houston, We Have a Problem!"- a waiver-required experience rated at 2 million Scoville units that has become a viral phenomenon at every new market the brand has entered. Beyond the headline sandwich, the full menu includes hot chicken tenders and waffles, nuggets, loaded fries, house-made lemonades, and HHC's famous house sauce. That combination of craveable everyday options and extreme heat experiences gives the brand a broad appeal while generating the kind of social media content that money cannot buy- a dynamic that has been central to its domestic growth strategy and will transfer naturally to the UK.

From Las Vegas to a National US Footprint in Just Four Years

HHC's trajectory since its founding in 2021 by Edmond Barseghian has been remarkable by any measure. In four years, the brand has expanded from its Las Vegas origins to locations across Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Michigan, and Ohio- a genuinely national footprint built at a pace that few emerging restaurant concepts achieve. The brand has sold more than 100 US franchises, cultivated a social media following of nearly 400,000 across its channels, and earned a No. 217 ranking on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing companies. That track record of domestic execution gives the UK expansion a credibility that first-time international entrants often struggle to establish- and gives PizzaExpress a franchise partner with a demonstrated ability to scale.

Savory Fund's Backing Gives the Expansion Serious Financial Firepower

Behind HHC's growth is Savory Fund, a Utah-based private equity firm with over $750 million in assets under management and an 18-year track record of identifying and scaling high-potential restaurant brands. The firm's portfolio includes category-defining concepts like Swig and Mo' Bettahs, and its investment in HHC reflects a conviction that the brand has the rare combination of genuine cultural resonance and operational scalability that justifies international expansion. Andrew K. Smith, Managing Director of Savory Fund, was explicit about the significance of the UK move. "HHC has built something rare - a brand with genuine cultural energy and the operational foundation to scale," he said. "Taking that to the UK through a partner like PizzaExpress, with their scale and market knowledge, is exactly the kind of move that accelerates a brand's trajectory. This is a significant moment."

Britain's Hot Chicken Market Is About to Get a Lot More Interesting

The UK's appetite for American-style fried chicken concepts has grown considerably in recent years, with the category attracting both domestic operators and international brands looking to capitalise on British consumers' enthusiasm for bold, indulgent fast food. HHC's entry into that market- backed by PizzaExpress's infrastructure and Savory Fund's capital- positions the brand to make a meaningful impression rather than a tentative debut. Three locations in 2026 will serve as the proof of concept, with the 50-location target over three years representing a genuine commitment to building a lasting presence rather than testing the waters with minimal investment. Further details on specific UK locations and opening dates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, setting the stage for what could be one of the more anticipated fast-casual launches Britain has seen in some time.

Houston TX Hot Chicken Makes Its First Move Into International Territory

A Partnership Built on Complementary Strengths

The Menu That Built a Cult Following- and Its UK Debut

From Las Vegas to a National US Footprint in Just Four Years

Savory Fund's Backing Gives the Expansion Serious Financial Firepower

Britain's Hot Chicken Market Is About to Get a Lot More Interesting

Houston TX Hot Chicken Expands Into the UK Market

Houston TX Hot Chicken Makes Its First Move Into International Territory

A Partnership Built on Complementary Strengths

The Menu That Built a Cult Following- and Its UK Debut

From Las Vegas to a National US Footprint in Just Four Years

Savory Fund's Backing Gives the Expansion Serious Financial Firepower

Britain's Hot Chicken Market Is About to Get a Lot More Interesting

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Houston TX Hot Chicken Expands Into the UK Market

Houston TX Hot Chicken Makes Its First Move Into International Territory

A Partnership Built on Complementary Strengths

The Menu That Built a Cult Following- and Its UK Debut

From Las Vegas to a National US Footprint in Just Four Years

Savory Fund's Backing Gives the Expansion Serious Financial Firepower

Britain's Hot Chicken Market Is About to Get a Lot More Interesting