Chick-fil-A to make debut in Northern Ireland with two locations

NORTHERN IRELAND – Multinational fast food chain Chick-fil-A has announced plans to make its debut in Northern Ireland with two locations in January 2025.

The restaurant chain Chick-fil-A is expanding into Northern Ireland in collaboration with Applegreen Northern Ireland.

The first outlet will open at Applegreen’s Lisburn South motorway service area on the M1, followed by a second location at Applegreen Templepatrick on the M2, set to launch in March.

These new ventures will generate 70 jobs, increasing Applegreen’s workforce in Northern Ireland to 351 employees. 

Applegreen has an established partnership with Chick-fil-A in the United States, where it operates 14 locations within its motorway service areas.

Caroline Cherington, Applegreen’s regional operations director, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting the company’s success with the Chick-fil-A brand in the US and its excitement to introduce the high-quality food to Northern Ireland. 

Chick-fil-A, the third-largest quick-service restaurant chain in the US by sales volume, operates over 3,000 outlets across the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

The new Northern Ireland locations follow recent upgrades to Applegreen’s Lisburn South and Templepatrick service areas, which now include M&S Food stores.

Applegreen currently operates five locations in Northern Ireland, with the two largest near Lisburn along the M1, as well as sites in Templepatrick, Ballymena, and Hillsborough. 

This expansion is part of Chick-fil-A’s broader growth strategy beyond the US. It coincides with the company’s announcement of a new location at 225421 Rib Mountain Drive in Rib Mountain, which will serve its signature chicken sandwiches, waffle fries, and specialty shakes.

Owned and developed by Lokre Companies, this US outlet will also support the local community through initiatives like the Community Scholars Program, Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, and the Shared Table program. 

In January 2025, Chick-fil-A updated its menu to kick off the year with fresh offerings. The Grilled Spicy Deluxe Sandwich, paired with a Cilantro Lime Sauce, made a return, alongside the introduction of Key Lime seasonal beverages available for a limited time.

These initiatives reflect the brand’s commitment to innovation and community engagement as it continues to expand globally. 

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