BirdShack Fried Chicken continues its expansion in Jamaica with Friday (March 1) opening of a fourth store in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

The fast food franchise, operated by the Arya Resort Management Group, also marks its first location outside of St. James.

With three outlets in Whitter Village, Barnett Tech Park and Barnett Street, the franchise has expanded beyond the second city and has now launched its first of two stores to open in the garden parish.

The ceremony took place at the location at Shop 1 Ocho Rios Bypass Plaza on March 1. The formalities were hosted by media veteran Janet Silvera and involved well wishes from Robin Russell, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA), and president of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce, Ransford Davidson.

Arya Group CEO Wayne Cummings thanked all present for sharing in the moment and expressed his gratitude to his partners, Robert Headley and Omar Robinson, who form the trio at the helm of the operation. He shared that the group has experienced incredible growth since the first store opened in 2022 and this fourth store marks the beginning of their expansion out of their comfort zone of Montego Bay. He thanked his bankers from the National Commercial Bank and First Global Bank for their business support, as well as the support from the business leaders in the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce.

Cummings shared that this location became available and the team decided it would be the perfect way to establish the brand outside of the other three locations. He confirmed that another branch is set to open in the parish later this year around May, as a part of Bird Shack’s expansion into other town centres.

Speaking to Our Today, Cummings suggested that under the franchise contract, from 2022, when the first store opened, until 2026, the group is legally obligated to open nine stores and having already established this fourth location, they are well on their way to exceeding that number, in that time.

“This is the time to expand, while the brand has generated all this fresh buzz and then they will all naturally settle together.” Cummings shared.

The ribbon was officially cut after the partners shared their remarks and the night and the store will be open for business as of 10:00 am March 2.