KFC to create 1,600 UK jobs in 2013 The chicken restaurant group has been expanding its franchise-led network at the rate of 30 new restaurants a year but raised the total to 40 last year and is aiming higher this year. The group has enjoyed seven consecutive years of growth as the squeeze on family incomes forces changes in eating habits. With 850 restaurants and 24,000 employees in the UK, KFC has changed its image and attempted to raise its profile since opening in Preston in 1965. It has abandoned the 'Finger lickin" good" promotion line - associated with founder Colonel Harland D. Sanders and his secret recipe - for the 'So good" line. More than 70pc of the UK restaurants are run by franchisees, some with 50 or more sites in their portfolio. The typical KFC outlet serves about 4,000 customers a week . Overall, the KFC restaurants sell 47m chickens a year. KFC claims to be the first restaurant business in the UK to offer an honours degree for staff through a business management course, in conjunction with De Montfort university, and works with Barnardo's to provide work experience for disadvantaged young adults. The business, part of the Yum! Brands group, increased sales by 6pc to £394m in the year to December 2011, according to sales figures filed with Companies House. Martin Shuker, managing director for UK and Ireland, who has also been given responsibility for operations in central and eastern Europe, said: "We are confident we can continue our upward trajectory."