Multi-site McDonald’s franchise company, Aberrant Group, continues its rapid expansion with an exciting roadmap for the future
2026 marks the ten-year anniversary of Aberrant Group Ltd (Aberrant). Over this time, the company has built its portfolio to an impressive 16 restaurants, and it now operates across six areas in the UK.
Franchisee and Managing Director David Knight joins Food Chain to reveal more about the group. Having won a prestigious Three-legged Stool Award in 2024, he begins with details on how this internal recognition impacted the group: “I was truly honored to receive the award for my contribution to the McDonald’s corporation – all its franchisees and suppliers are hugely talented individuals which is what makes the McDonald’s system so strong and successful. I was absolutely delighted to be recognized amongst that peer group, and it gave me real confidence around what I’m doing as a franchisee to support the McDonald’s network.
“Being a McDonald’s franchisee gives me the opportunity to make some incredible decisions for the futures of my team members, and I take that responsibility very seriously. I want everyone to be able to work in a safe and inclusive environment, where they can be the best version of themselves and reach their full potential, whatever that looks like for them. There are fantastic opportunities for employees, and we offer access to development coaching, mentoring programs, additional training, and our world-class apprenticeship schemes where people can earn while they learn. We currently have four people on degree-level apprenticeships in the organization, which is fantastic, especially considering this is a first job for many of my workforce.” Employees can use these opportunities to progress in their careers, taking on more responsibility within the organization or creating a great starting point for those entering the workforce, helping instill a strong work ethic.
Community commitment
David goes on to explain that ensuring the very best for both Aberrant’s team and its customers has been the critical success factor in helping his company reach its ten-year milestone. “We’ve run high-quality restaurants from day one, and I respect our relationship with McDonald’s,” he continues. “I’ve always been aligned with their system and values.”
Alongside providing fantastic career opportunities, Aberrant plays a key role in supporting its community. “Our lottery fund allows us to contribute massively to local charities and support good causes, through the resources and the funding that we have,” David highlights. “Our headline charities comprise of Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, which provides free home away from home accommodation for families with children in hospital, and BBC Children in Need, but we’re also supporting many local charities. We feel really proud that we’re able to do that.
“Additionally, we’ve worked hard across all sites to be good neighbors to the residents and businesses surrounding each restaurant. We try and play active roles within these communities, always striving to foster great relationships with them.”
Prioritizing partnerships
On a personal note, David has also been appointed to the UK McDonald’s Marketing Board. “I’m extremely excited about being voted onto that board,” he discloses. “My background was marketing communications before becoming a franchisee in 2016, so it’s an honor being able to take on that role for three years.”
Aberrant is set to continue investing significantly in its estate, with a focus on reimaging restaurants to ensure they are modern and contemporary establishments that provide a ‘next-level hospitality experience’ for customers. David elaborates: “I want our restaurants to be somewhere people enjoy eating and the best place on the high street for them to come and visit. I will also be investing significantly in my employee value proposition to make sure we’re providing the best workplace for my team. Furthermore, the delivery platform market shows no signs of abating for McDonald’s who continue to invest in partnerships with Uber, Just Eat, and Deliveroo. This market continues to grow at pace for us.
“Ultimately, I want to continue growing and developing my organization in order to become the most modern, progressive flagship group of restaurants in the McDonald’s system,” he concludes. “I aim to keep building a great relationship with McDonald’s and I hope that my restaurants will continue to play a positive part in the communities that we serve. My goal was always to get to 20 restaurants, so I’ll continue to expand my business and hopefully fulfil those ambitions so I can provide even more opportunities for my teams to grow and develop.
“For the brand, I hope we continue to innovate and progress with new tastes, promotions and experiences, creating forward-thinking restaurants with the best technology. With proposals to open even more new restaurants, the brand is as optimistic and excited as I’ve ever seen it and I’m looking forward to what the future holds.”