Kuwaiti food group KFG takes over The Little Chef

The UK branch of the Kuwaiti firm Kout Food Group Restaurants has taken over The Little Chef chain of roadside restaurants in the UK for nearly US $23mn.

KFGR-UK chairperson Fadwa al Homaizi, said in a statement: "KFGR-UK has exciting plans to revitalise the Little Chef brand.

"Little Chef will benefit from a process of brand renewal in keeping with current trends, supported by traditional British values."

The brand Little Chef has faced hurdles in recent times with a restructuring in 2007, and was put up for sale in April 2013. It currently has 1,100 employees with 83 sites across Britain's A-roads.

Celeb chef Heston Blumenthal also worked with the brand to revamp its menu.

KFG was launched in 1982, and runs franchises like Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Applebee's, and Burj Al-Hamam in the Middle East. In the UK, it operates Maison Blanc restaurants and more than 40 KFC and Burger King outlets.

 The seller of Little Chef, RCapital's CEO Jamie Constable said he was confident "the new owners will take the brand to the next stage."