Workers at KFC, Pizza Hut restaurants in Türkiye stage protests over closures

Workers of Is Gida, the operator of over 530 KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in Türkiye, staged protests in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir after branches began closing following the company’s concordatum filing to avoid bankruptcy.

As branches shut down one by one, reports indicate that employees were dismissed without receiving their salaries.

Claiming they have not even received their January wages, employees have begun staging protests in various cities, with nearly 7,000 workers reportedly affected by the situation. Workers are organizing demonstrations to demand their unpaid salaries and legal rights.

KFC and Pizza Hut workers protest in Türkiye — KFC and Pizza Hut workers protest, demanding unpaid wages and compensation following branch closures, in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Feb. 8, 2025. (Photo via turkiyegazetesi.com)

Administrative staff were reportedly told they no longer needed to come to the office and could work remotely. Meanwhile, many workers have initiated or are preparing to pursue legal action against the company.

Yum! Brands reports $1.5B in net profit for 2024

U.S.-based Yum! Brands, which owns KFC and Pizza Hut, announced on Jan. 8 that it had terminated its franchise agreements with Is Gida, citing the operator’s failure to meet the required standards. In a response on the same day, Is Gida refuted the claims, asserting that its operations met quality standards and that it would continue business as usual.

However, on Jan. 31, the Turkish Commercial Court granted Is Gida a three-month temporary respite as part of its request for concordatum, a form of legal debt restructuring in Türkiye. The court also appointed three trustees to oversee the company during the process.

File photo shows a person holding a smartphone displaying the logo of Yum! Brands, is a U.S.-based multinational fast food corporation that owns major restaurant chains such as KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. (Adobe Stock Photo)

The process is expected to impact 283 KFC and 254 Pizza Hut restaurants across the country.

Just days ago, on Feb. 6, Yum! Brands reported its financial results for 2024, indicating total revenue of $7.55 billion, exceeding market expectations. The company posted a net profit of $1.49 billion, driving its stock price up by more than 8% on the New York Stock Exchange.

Yum! Brands, which operates KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger Grill, owns more than 61,000 restaurants in over 155 countries and territories.