ProNoïa, one of the main franchisees of KFC in France, has reportedly been placed under safeguard proceedings by the Bordeaux commercial court, according to BFM Business. The court reportedly opened these proceedings in late September for the holding company and its subsidiaries, which notably operate the KFC outlets at Gare du Nord and the Forum des Halles in Paris, as well as in Bayonne and Dijon.
Founded by Pierre Tritz, who opened his first franchised KFC in 2013, the group would today count around forty establishments and employ some 900 staff. It had, however, displayed markedly higher ambitions: with financing of 85 million euros, mostly obtained from banks, ProNoïa aimed to grow from 26 restaurants to nearly sixty by 2025, seeking to « capter plus du tiers de la croissance » of KFC in France. The group would ultimately have opened only around fifteen, notably at La Défense and at the Parly 2 shopping centre.
Finances under strain
The group, still profitable in the 2021-2022 financial year, would subsequently have deteriorated. For the financial year ending in late March 2025, ProNoïa reportedly lost 7.2 million euros on revenue of 83.9 million euros, with financial debt of 60.7 million euros. The Paris-region subsidiary, for its part, reportedly lost 4.7 million euros for the financial year ending in late March 2026, with its debts exceeding the value of its assets by 14.6 million euros.
For two consecutive financial years, ProNoïa reportedly failed to meet the financial ratios required by its banks, which nonetheless reportedly granted it a waiver in late 2025, amid discussions to reschedule its debt. Contacted by AFP, KFC France said its franchisee had undertaken a « proactive » approach in order to « adapter et restructurer son activité face à un environnement économique exigeant ».
Against this backdrop, brands competing with KFC have reportedly multiplied, from Tasty Crousty to Popeyes. Another major franchisee of the chain, AmRest, which also operates Sushi Shop outlets, reportedly saw sales from its French business decline by more than 10% last year and in the first quarter, before noting « signes d'amélioration » in the second quarter. Chicken consumption in France, however, reportedly rose by 5.6% in 2025, according to the Anvol trade body.
Next steps in the proceedings
The safeguard proceedings would freeze ProNoïa's debts while a plan is negotiated, which could spread their repayment over ten years. Should this fail, the proceedings could lead to receivership, or even court-ordered liquidation.
