Morley’s

About Morley’s

Morley’s chicken shop was founded in 1985 when Kannalingam (Indran) Selvendran opened his debut restaurant/takeaway in Sydenham, south London, before moving to a takeout model with limited seating. After the founder passed away in 2022, the business was taken on by his sons, who have expanded it to more than 100 sites, with the 100th opening in Brighton in March 2023.

The company is looking to ramp up its expansion through franchising and is eyeing possible global growth. One of its franchise sites, in Birmingham, is run by former Liverpool FC footballer Jerome Sinclair. It has also featured in Hollywood film Rye Lane, a Stormzy music video, on TV’s Chicken Shop Date and in a Nike advert. It was also immortalised in an illustration by Kazvere Made It in the Tate Modern, and in song by Krept, who released Morley’s Freestyle in 2020.

“The sky is the limit really,” chief executive Shan Selvendran told Propel. “Our growth has been organic up to now, but we’re looking to ramp up our franchise offer. We have targeted a global reach within the next few years and are currently in discussions with parties in the Middle East and Asia. Our dad, who founded the business, passed away in 2002, and it is now run by his sons - we want to continue his legacy by building the brand with community at its core.”

In January 2024, Morley’s partnered with London gym brand Gymbox for a joint campaign. Later that year, it won a High Court case, and a subsequent appeal, against a competitor it accused of using signing too similar to its own, as well as its Triple M trademark.

Why franchise with Morley’s

• ✓Morley’s offers single-unit and multi-unit franchises as well as regional rights. Total investment is up to £170,000, with franchise fees of £15,000 plus VAT. There is also a 4% royalty fee and 1% marketing contribution.
• ✓In return, it provides a support team; assistance in site selection and store opening procedures; branding and marketing programmes; cost-effective store design and fit out; experienced equipment selection; access to operational systems; established supply chain; extensive personalised training; and comprehensive operations and training manuals. Franchisees can expect a return on investment within 12 to 18 months. The franchise agreement is for five years, with a further two terms of five years each.
• ✓Operations training will take up to four weeks, consisting of food safety management, supply chain, food operations and store operations. Construction of a store from keys being exchanged can take eight to 12 weeks, with Morley’s providing a contractor, guidance and support throughout the process.
• ✓The company said: “The team at Morley’s has developed and designed a system that streamlines all the processes, resulting in a simplified operation. Whilst having previous experience in F&B is preferred, its in-depth training programme will take you through all the steps in order to run a successful model. As franchise partners, Morley’s is looking for entrepreneurs and operators to be proud to be part of this exciting brand and be motivated to grow with the concept over the coming years.”