CTR Chicken prepares to enter new markets through master franchising

CTR Chicken, founded in İzmir, Turkey, aims to expand its international restaurant network through master franchise partnerships. In comments published by Tek Referans on 22 October 2026, founder Uğur Özgilik said the company intended to double its number of outlets within three years. According to Özgilik, the brand currently operates 217 outlets in more than 160 cities across 42 countries.

New York and China feature in expansion plans

CTR Chicken’s latest expansion plans cover the US, China and South America. Özgilik said its New York restaurant was nearing its opening and that the company also aimed to open a restaurant in China. In South America, he said Venezuela was under consideration.

The markets are at different stages of preparation. While an opening is approaching in New York, China is a target market and Venezuela remains an option being considered. The countries mentioned should therefore not all be treated as locations where restaurants have already opened or new franchise outlets are operating.

Outlining his plans for new markets, Özgilik said: “Our aim is to open restaurants in America and China too.” Preparations in New York were presented as a concrete step towards the brand’s US ambitions. However, the announcement described the opening as close rather than providing a firm date.

For those following Turkey’s franchise sector, the story centres on a Turkish-founded restaurant brand seeking to add new markets to its existing international network. This is not simply about increasing the number of countries it serves: Özgilik also set out the partnership approach intended to support its next phase of growth.

Master franchising is central to the three-year target

Master franchise partnerships play a prominent role in Özgilik’s growth plan. “We will grow with the right master franchise partners,” the founder said, announcing a target to double the number of outlets over the next three years. He thus linked international expansion directly to partner selection.

There are two distinct elements here: a three-year outlet growth target and the partnership approach intended to deliver it. Doubling the number of outlets is a forward-looking ambition. It is important to distinguish that target from the figure of 217 outlets, which describes the existing network.

Discussing the brand’s growth to date, Özgilik said it had expanded particularly quickly in Africa. He also stressed the company’s desire to continue opening restaurants in new countries. Africa was presented as part of its growth story so far, while the US, China and South America form the next expansion agenda.

The emphasis on master franchising indicates that the brand sees local partnerships as part of its entry into new markets. However, the statement does not announce a separate partnership for each target country. Investors should therefore distinguish between the overall direction of growth and a confirmed agreement in a specific market.

Around 40 outlets operate in Turkey

Despite its international ambitions, Turkey remains part of CTR Chicken’s growth agenda. Özgilik said that around 40 of its 217 outlets worldwide were in Turkey. He added that the company also aimed to increase its Turkish outlet count rapidly.

The reported distribution shows that most of the restaurant network is outside Turkey. Nevertheless, the domestic growth ambition is noteworthy: while pursuing new countries, the brand continues to seek expansion in its home market. Domestic and international growth are therefore complementary parts of the same announcement.

The figure of around 40 Turkish outlets describes the current position, while the intention to increase that number signals future plans. The three-year doubling target applies to the global network; no separate numerical target or timetable was given for growth in Turkey. This distinction is particularly important for entrepreneurs assessing investment opportunities in the Turkish market.

Equipment sales sit alongside the restaurant business

CTR Chicken’s activities are not limited to franchised restaurants. Özgilik said the company sold pressure fryers to four continents while also opening restaurants through franchising. His comments therefore covered both the restaurant operating model and the kitchen equipment business.

According to Özgilik, pressure fryers had previously not been manufactured in Turkey and were imported from America. Describing the company’s activities, the founder said that, alongside this equipment business, it had begun opening fried chicken restaurants under the CTR Chicken brand. Both equipment sales and the restaurant network form part of the brand’s international story.

These two business areas should not be confused. Sales of machinery to four continents describe the equipment business’s reach, while the figures of 42 countries and 217 outlets refer to the reported restaurant network. When assessing franchise opportunities, the terms of a restaurant partnership and the scope of equipment supply should be considered separately.

Practical takeaway: Investors considering discussions with CTR Chicken should first clarify whether they are interested in operating a single outlet in Turkey or becoming a master franchise partner in a particular market. They should then confirm the territory’s current availability, the opening timetable and equipment supply terms directly with the brand.