KFC has said that it will buy more than 200 outlets owned by the billionaire Issa brothers who have links to Bradford.

The fast food chain said that it would take over the sites in the UK and Ireland, which employ around 7,800 people.

Around half of the 218 sites are drive-through locations, said KFC, which is owned by Yum! Brands, the company behind Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

They had previously been owned by EG Group.

EG Group said that the sale, expected to be completed by next summer, will help it pay off some of its loans.

The Northern Echo: The familiar KFC branding The familiar KFC branding (Image: Newsquest)

EG also runs franchise sites for Starbucks, Greggs and Subway, among others.

EG co-founders Zuber Issa and Mohsin Issa said: “We are proud to have been a strategic partner of KFC in the UK and Ireland, playing an important role in helping the brand expand its footprint.

“Now is the right time to hand the baton to the KFC leadership team to continue to grow the brand in the UK.

“This is the latest transaction in our significant deleveraging this year – to put in place a sustainable capital structure.”