Ever wondered how much your local KFC outlet makes in a year or dreamt about owning a store yourself?

Collins Foods, the company behind the biggest franchise chain of KFC and Taco Bell restaurants in the country, have released figures that confirm Australia’s obsession with fried chicken is also a money-making machine.

The company operates 288 KFC fast food outlets which recorded a total revenue of over $1.15 billion for the last financial year.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

Crunch the numbers and the average turnover for Australian KFC restaurants is now hovering around $4 million per annum, which was up 3 per cent with the addition of nine new stores in 2024/25.

The ASX-listed company, with operations in Europe, reported a $245 million profit for its Australian KFC business, which delivered an average profit of $773,000 per store in the last FY.

Stock market investors greeted the news with a renewed hunger and Collins Foods shares have been hot and spicy in recent weeks, surging as much as 29 per cent.

“Operational initiatives and a growing network are expected to drive sales and enhance customer experience over the year ahead, supported by improving consumer sentiment as cost of living pressures ease,” said Collins Food boss Xavier Simonet.

With no end in sight to the fried chicken frenzy, an opportunity for savvy investors has hit the market with a newly constructed KFC store up for lease according to realcommercial.comau.

The giant bucket has gone up out the front of the site at Gordonvale, south of Cairns, and is on offer with a 15-year lease and an estimated net income return of nearly $300,000 per year.

Fast food restaurants have also become one of the most sought after investment options in the retail real estate sector, according to REA Group senior economist Anne Flaherty.

“Fast food outlets from big name brands typically do really well and are in high demand by property investors,” she said.

One brand that is bucking the trend and has failed to connect with Aussie diners is Taco Bell.

In April, Collins Foods announced plans to sell or close the 27 Taco Bell restaurants it operates in Australia, citing underperformance.

The Mexican fast-food business has performed poorly against the hugely popular Guzman Y Gomez and Zambrero, which each have hundreds of restaurants nationwide.