What Franchise - Issue 21.2

Established: 1988 Number of outlets: 12 Locations of units: Canterbury, Bristol, Southhampton, Weston Super Mare, Newquay, Musselburgh Investment range: £250,000 - £300,000 ounded in 1965, Miss Millie’s has become a much-loved name across the SouthWest, building a loyal following for itsWings of Fire, tenders, burgers, wraps and shakes.While the brand has expanded steadily in recent years, with openings in locations in Edinburgh, Southampton and Newquay, Canterbury holds particular significance. NEW BEGINNINGS “The recent opening of our Miss Millie’s store in Canterbury is a milestone for the brand. It is the culmination of all the work we have been doing over the past 18 months,” announced CEOAndy Purnell. The Canterbury franchise is the first Miss Millie’s store to open in the east of the UK and the first to fully showcase the brand’s new look, newmenu and redefined positioning, heralding the start of a renewed growth phase. Central to this work has been a comprehensive rebrand and menu development programme, designed to ensure Miss Millie’s remains culturally relevant while staying true to its heritage. The new menu introduces a refreshed chicken breading recipe, featuring 12 secret herbs and spices, alongside a broader range of flavour-packed sauces and regularly changing seasonal specials. REBRANDED FOR TODAY’S CUSTOMER “We have re-branded to a newmodern style and launched a new and improved menu. In partnership with our design and social media agencies, we have re-positioned the brand to be culturally relevant to our target customer,” Purnell explained. “We have made many other changes that improve the experience for our franchisees and customers at many touch points throughout the business, with a ‘flavour first’ strategy at the heart of everything we do.” As Miss Millie’s looks to extend its footprint nationwide, the brand is seeing growing interest from prospective franchisees attracted by its heritage, refreshed model and renewed momentum. “The Canterbury opening signifies the beginning of a new chapter for Miss Millie’s and one focused on growth,” Purnell said. “We are seeing increased interest in our brand fromwould-be franchisees and are currently working with a number of parties keen to be part of the Miss Millie’s growth story. 2026 is shaping up to be a very positive year for new openings as interest and brand awareness continue to grow.” LAUNCH SUCCESS For new franchisee David Peachey, the decision to invest was rooted in the product itself. “After trying the Miss Millie’s chicken, it was an easy choice. Everything else could be agreed, but if the chicken wasn’t right, it would not have worked for me,” he said. Since opening, the Canterbury store has quickly embedded itself into the local community, building momentum as word spread. “I knewwe would wowCanterbury over, and we have. Once the word was out how good Miss Millie’s actually is, the people came and kept coming,” Peachey added. As Miss Millie’s blends heritage with innovation, the Canterbury launch stands as both a celebration of how far the brand has come, and a clear signal of where it is headed next. F FRANCH I SE OVERV I EW Miss Millie’s: Reworking the recipe for growth F O O D & D R I N K The UK’s original fried chicken brand has officially marked a new chapter with the opening of its Canterbury store F O R F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N Abi Lucas [email protected] Minimum required capital: £50,000 73 WHAT-FRANCHISE.COM MISS MILLIE’S Behind the Brand | PARTNER CONTENT