{{Short description|British-based fast food outlet}} {{about|the British fast food chain|the dish they serve|Southern fried chicken}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2024}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox company | name = Southern Fried Chicken Ltd. | logo = Southern Fried Chicken logo.jpg | type = Fast Food Franchise | foundation = {{Start date and age|1970}} | founder = Arthur Withers | location = Reading, England, UK | industry = Restaurant | area_served = United Kingdom<br/> Republic of the Congo<br/> DR Congo<br/> Cyprus<br/> Kazakhstan<br/> Greece<br/> Malta<br/> Martinique<br/> Mongolia<br/> Nigeria<br/> Senegal<br/> Tajikistan<br/> Sharjah<br/> Russia<br/> China (Future Location)<br/> Tenerife, Spain<br/> Central African Republic<br/> India<ref>{{cite web | url=https://southernfriedchicken.com/our-locations/ | title=Our Locations | date=13 July 2018 }}</ref> | products = Fried chicken, Chicken sandwiches, Wraps, French fries, Salads, Soft drinks, Milkshakes | homepage = {{nowrap|{{URL|https://www.southernfriedchicken.com}}}} }}
'''Southern Fried Chicken,'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://southernfriedchicken.com/about-us/|title=About Us|date=14 May 2018 }}</ref> is a British-based fast food outlet headquartered in Reading, England. It operates a franchise network in the United Kingdom and worldwide. Southern Fried Chicken has 93 locations in 15 countries.
==History== Southern Fried Chicken was founded in the 1970s by Arthur Withers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/arthur-withers-story-andrew-withers|title=The Arthur Withers Story|via=LinkedIn|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> In 1973, Withers travelled to the US to work for Barbeque King, where he improved his knowledge of the commercial fast food business. Withers visited Greenville, South Carolina, where he studied the cuisine of fried chicken.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southernfriedchicken.com/about-us/arthurs-story/ |title=SFC |publisher=Southern Fried Chicken |access-date=20 September 2015}}</ref>
In 1983, Southern Fried Chicken moved into its present headquarters, complete with its own manufacturing department.
In 1999, Southern Fried Chicken met The Alendvic Company and started to expand his company of fried chicken in Russia, starting in the Perm region. The Perm region now hosts over 25 outlets.
The company is currently headed by Arthur's son, Andrew Withers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.franchiseworld.co.uk/southern-fried-chicken-chicken-restaurants|title=Southern Fried Chicken - chicken restaurants - Franchise World, founded in 1978, is the UK's longest-established franchise magazine}}</ref>
==Outlets== [[File:Southern Fried Chicken Forum foodcourt Helsinki.jpg|thumb|Southern Fried Chicken at the Forum shopping centre in Helsinki (Finland)]] Southern Fried Chicken is currently sold in over 700 locations, in over 79 countries worldwide. Restaurants have consistent interior designs and are clean, spacious and comfortable.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
Southern Fried Chicken operates in Europe, Arabia, Middle East, North and sub-Saharan regions, South America, and India. They are attempting to open the Chinese Market.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
==''Undercover Boss''== In July 2011, Andrew Withers took part in the Channel 4 documentary series ''Undercover Boss'', where he went undercover to work at various franchises in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/undercover-boss/articles/boss-interview-andrew-withers |title=Undercover Boss – Features – Boss Interview: Andrew Withers |publisher=Channel 4 |date=6 July 2011 |access-date=3 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717000303/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/undercover-boss/articles/boss-interview-andrew-withers |archive-date=17 July 2011 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.southernfriedchicken.com}}
{{Establishments serving chicken}} {{UK Food}}
Category:1970 establishments in England Category:British companies established in 1970 Category:Chicken chains of the United Kingdom Category:Companies based in Reading, Berkshire Category:Fast-food chains of the United Kingdom Category:Fast-food franchises Category:Fast-food poultry restaurants Category:Restaurants established in 1970