Wingstop UK was sold to US private equity firm Sixth Street in December 2024 for a reported value of over £400 million ($532 million). The deal involved the acquisition of a majority stake in Lemon Pepper Holdings, the master franchisee for the chicken wing chain in the UK and Ireland, which operates 57 sites.
A £400 million ($532 million) takeover deal for the UK arm of Wingstop—the American fried chicken chain with celebrity fans like Kylie Jenner—that he cofounded with Herman Sahota and Saul Lewin.
How much does a Wingstop franchise cost? Depending on location, the size of your restaurant, the size of your sales team, and many other variable cost factors, opening a new Wingstop franchise can cost from £150,000 up to £975,000.
Rick Ross is a millionaire, with most sources estimating his net worth around $150 million from music, Maybach Music Group, Wingstop franchises, and other investments, though he is generally not considered a billionaire like fellow artists Jay-Z or Dr. Dre, despite some claims or aspirations for higher status.
Yes, Rick Ross still owns several Wingstop franchises (around 25-30 locations), but he does not own the entire Wingstop corporation; he is a major franchisee, building a family legacy with the brand, which is publicly owned and managed by Roark Capital.
Are Wingstop franchises profitable? Yes. According to external research, the average initial investment to open a new Wingstop restaurant is $631,695 and the average annual sales per outlet are $1,460,459.
Chris Sherriff is the CEO of Wingstop UK, leading its rapid expansion to 58 locations with plans to reach over 180 restaurants in five years. He joined the company in 2021 as COO before becoming CEO in 2024. Previously, he held senior roles at Ben & Jerry's and Yum!
“When I was little, pop showed me a picture and said that's your great, great, great uncle,” he said. The family is no longer connected with KFC. Harland sold it for $2 million back in 1964 and the remaining Sanders have no stake in the company.
The 30/30/30/10 rule for restaurants is a budgeting guideline allocating revenue: 30% to Food Costs, 30% to Labor Costs, 30% to Overhead, and 10% to Profit. It serves as a balanced framework for managing expenses, controlling spending, and ensuring profitability, though modern realities often make hitting the 10% profit target difficult, with many restaurants averaging much lower.
KFC's brand is ranked #130 in the list of Global Top 1000 Brands, as rated by customers of KFC. Their current valuation is $32.95B. McDonald's's brand is ranked #85 in the list of Global Top 100 Brands, as rated by customers of McDonald's. Their current valuation is $167.91B.
Most importantly, franchises have a much better success rate than independent businesses. Over five years, franchise success statistics look much better than those for independent small businesses: Only about 4% of franchises fail within the first five years; but. Nearly 50% of all startups fail in the same timeframe.
On the Kentucky Fried Chicken UK website, the company states that aspiring franchise owners must have £5 million in assets and £2 million in liquid capital. The franchise fee, which is payable upfront, is approximately £38,000. The balance is to set up and operate your new business.
Rick Ross, the renowned rapper and entrepreneur, has expanded his business ventures into the franchise world, particularly with Wingstop and Checkers. His first Wingstop franchise was opened in Memphis, TN, in 2011, driven by his fondness for their Lemon Pepper-flavored wings.
Wingstop is holding a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell) right now. With respect to valuation, Wingstop is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 56.69. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 20.56.
Yearly gross sales of $2,001,753 and estimated earnings of $240,211 - $300,263 show the potential financial performance of this franchise. These figures are crucial for prospective franchisees as they help to project revenue and profitability.
Rick Ross built his wealth through a diverse portfolio, starting with a successful music career (Maybach Music Group, hit albums) as a foundation, then expanding into lucrative franchises (Wingstop, Checkers), major brand endorsements (Belaire champagne, Reebok), significant real estate investments (including properties used as filming locations), and other ventures like a hair care line, leveraging his "boss" image into tangible assets and income streams.
These institutions hold a total of 43,241,342 shares. Largest shareholders include BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, Price T Rowe Associates Inc /md/, Lone Pine Capital Llc, American Century Companies Inc, T.
