BelChicken in talks over Spanish master franchise

BelChicken is in talks over a master franchise agreement for Spain, according to an interview with CEO Fevzi Yildirim published by RetailDetail on 22 October 2026. The Belgian restaurant chain, founded in 2019, now has more than sixty outlets across several countries. For those considering the Belgian franchise market, its approach to growth is particularly relevant: BelChicken combines international ambitions with a model centred on adaptability and collaboration with franchisees.

Spain as the next step in international growth

The talks over Spain are part of an expansion that has already taken BelChicken beyond its home market of Belgium. According to RetailDetail, the chain has restaurants in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and West Africa. Its network comprises more than sixty restaurants in total; that figure does not refer solely to its Belgian outlets.

The report states that a well-known Flemish personality is involved in the discussions about a Spanish master franchise, but does not name them. For now, these are negotiations rather than an announced, signed agreement. No opening date or planned number of Spanish restaurants is given either.

This distinction matters when assessing the growth plans. The chain's existing international presence is established, while the Spanish partnership remains a potential next step. Alongside Spain, BelChicken also has West Africa in its sights for further development, combining a European presence with operations beyond Europe.

Flexibility as the basis of the franchise model

Yildirim does not present BelChicken as a copy of the major American fast-food chains. When the Belgian chicken restaurant concept launched in 2019, international operators already had a strong presence in the quick-service restaurant market. Nevertheless, BelChicken has built a network spanning several continents in seven years.

In the interview, the CEO emphasises continual adaptation rather than standardisation as the guiding principle. In his view, flexibility is essential to surviving in an environment shaped by successive crises. RetailDetail describes BelChicken's approach as a flexible franchise model.

One concrete example of how the restaurant concept is evolving is its first drive-through outlet, on the A12 in Antwerp. This location shows that, alongside international expansion, the chain is also developing different restaurant formats.

For prospective franchisees, this makes the balance between brand requirements and local execution an important topic for discussion. A flexible model needs clear agreements on what is fixed and where adaptations are possible. The interview offers an insight into the chain's vision, but does not provide a full account of the terms offered to individual franchisees.

Expanding through the pandemic and inflation

The timing of the launch makes the growth story striking. BelChicken started shortly before the coronavirus pandemic, exposing the young chain to exceptional conditions almost immediately. According to RetailDetail, food delivery and close collaboration with franchisees enabled the business to keep expanding.

Cooperation within the network is therefore a central part of the story. Yildirim does not attribute the chain's development solely to its food offering or choice of locations. According to the report, the way the chain and its franchisees responded together to changing conditions also played a part.

Yildirim says BelChicken maintained its margins during the subsequent surge in inflation. This is a statement by the CEO about the business, not a published breakdown of individual restaurants' financial results. Entrepreneurs considering joining the network should therefore assess its growth separately from the profitability of a particular outlet.

Belgium's approach to growth on stage in Brussels

Yildirim will explain his approach in more detail at Gamechangers, the preliminary programme for RetailDetail Night, on 19 November in Brussels. His contribution will cover flexibility, the customer experience and international expansion. The central question is how a Belgian restaurant chain with a flexible franchise model competes with global fast-food brands.

For those interested in franchising in Belgium, the event offers an opportunity to better understand the business thinking behind the expansion. The talks over Spain also give the presentation a concrete international context, although the outcome of those negotiations remains uncertain.

Practical advice: anyone exploring BelChicken as a franchise opportunity can follow the Spanish negotiations, but should also ask about specific local support, scope for adaptation and outlet-level financial performance. International growth and the viability of a single restaurant are two separate considerations.