Houston TX Hot Chicken Inks Deal to Grow in U.K. Market

Houston TX Hot Chicken (HHC), the Las Vegas-based fast-casual brand that has become one of the fastest-growing hot chicken concepts in the United States, today announced its first international expansion in the UK. The brand will make its way to the UK market through a exclusive European franchisee agreement with PizzaExpress, one of the most established casual dining operators in the UK and Ireland with nearly 500 locations in its house of brands.

Three HHC locations are set to open in the UK in 2026, with plans to scale to 50 locations nationally over the next three years.

The partnership pairs HHC’s cult-favorite brand and proven fast casual model with PizzaExpress’s unmatched operational infrastructure and deep understanding of the UK consumer — a combination the two companies are betting will shake up Britain’s QSR landscape.

“Working with the PizzaExpress team to expand for the first time internationally is truly a milestone moment for us,” said Brian Simowitz, president of Houston TX Hot Chicken. “No one knows fried chicken better than HHC, and no one knows the UK market better than PizzaExpress, making this the perfect partnership. We can’t wait to fly the coop and land in the UK, bringing something unexpected and exciting to chicken consumers.”

Brand concept and menu

HHC has built its U.S. following on the strength of an unapologetically bold menu and an electric brand experience that blends craveable food with car culture and social-media-ready energy.

The brand’s signature offering — the Original Hot Chicken Sandwich — is available across a range of heat levels, culminating in “Houston, We Have a Problem!,” a waiver-required 2 million Scoville unit experience that has become a viral phenomenon at every market entry. The full menu includes hot chicken sandwiches, tenders and waffles, nuggets, loaded fries, house-made lemonades, and HHC’s famous house sauce.

“We’re thrilled to be adding Houston TX Hot Chicken to our house of brands, bringing something truly distinctive to the UK market: bold flavor, real energy and an experience that stands apart,” said Paula MacKenzie, Group CEO of PizzaExpress. “This is chicken unlike you’ve seen it before.”

Expansion and growth plans

The UK openings mark a significant step for HHC’s expansion following a period of explosive domestic growth. Founded in 2021 by Edmond Barseghian, the brand has scaled to locations across Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Michigan, and Ohio, and has cultivated a fanbase of nearly 400,000 social media followers nationwide. The brand, which has 100+ franchises sold in the U.S., has earned industry recognition including a No. 217 ranking on the Inc. 5000.

HHC’s U.S. growth is backed by Savory Fund, a Utah-based private equity firm with over $750 million in assets under management and an 18-year track record of scaling high-potential, category-defining restaurant brands like Swig and Mo’ Bettahs.

“HHC has built something rare: a brand with genuine cultural energy and the operational foundation to scale,” said Andrew K. Smith, managing director of Savory Fund. “Taking that to the U.K. through a partner like PizzaExpress, with their scale and market knowledge, is exactly the kind of move that accelerates a brand’s trajectory. This is a significant moment.”