Pizza Express to launch new chicken concept in 300 stores

The popular UK pizza chain said it aims to help push its growth ambitions.

PizzaExpress’ boss said it will continue to “focus” on its core pizza brand but has recognised a “huge appetite” for chicken from customers.

As a result, it will roll out its new Mac & Wings delivery brand to more than 300 sites across the UK from Tuesday, March 3.

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PizzaExpress to launch new chicken offering after customer demand

The launch comes on the back of significant growth in chicken across the restaurant and fast-food sectors.

Rivals such as Dominos have launched their own chicken concepts in recent months, while a raft of US-founded chicken brands, such as Wingstop, Popeyes and Raising Cane’s have opened sites across the UK.

PizzaExpress said its chicken wing products will be baked, rather than fried, and it believes there is still enough room in the UK market for strong growth.

Paula MacKenzie, PizzaExpress chief executive, told the Press Association that the business has been “working on the concept for a number of months” after recognising customer demand.

She said: “There is a competitive context but we are launching the concept because we believe we can do something exciting and different.

“It is something we are able to do alongside pizzas in our kitchens, but it is important that the brand does feel like it has its own identity.”

Mac & Wings to be sold as its own brand across the UK

The Mac & Wings products will be sold across the UK as its own brand through Deliveroo, but they will be made by PizzaExpress chefs within the restaurant chain’s kitchens.

Its menu will include a selection of baked wings, in flavours such as hot honey, and buttermilk chicken tenders, served with a choice of dips including spicy tomato & chilli, garlic butter and “pizzanaise”.

Ms Mackenzie said the business will initially be only available for delivery on the back of strong demand for takeaway chicken on delivery platforms such as Deliveroo.

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However, she said the group will “keep an open mind” to potentially expanding the brand into bricks-and-mortar restaurants.

PizzaExpress expands restaurant and pod offering

Last year, PizzaExpress launched a new concept where it opened some PizzaExpress pods, allowing customers to enjoy pizza on-the-go as they were located at supermarkets, including Tesco and other spots.

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In April, it opened a pod at Swansea Marina and later, in September, the company opened a pod at Tesco Extra in Cheshunt.

This was after the concept saw success in Southampton in late 2024.

In 2025, PizzaExpress opened new restaurants in the likes of Cambridge, Redhill and Kingston.

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