Twenty new jobs will be created in Fort William when an international fast food store opens its doors later this year.
KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken, is currently recruiting for staff – with salaries of up to £26,000 for working in the branch in the Lochaber town.
Councillor Allan Henderson, from Fort William, said the project showed the overall confidence in the town, and the continued investment from business.
At the start of the week plans were announced to build a soap factory in the Lochaber capital.
The KFC outlet – which has planning permission for a drive through, restaurant and take away – is on the A82 north of Fort William, at North Road – next to Poundstretchers and a nearby Costa Coffee drive through and cafe.
Developers have been working on the plan for the business for more than five years.
Managerial jobs at the outlet have now been advertised via HiJobs and The Press and Journal.
In a statement, KFC franchise operators Herbert said: “The Herbert Group are KFC’s largest franchise with 156 restaurants across the UK and Ireland and is growing each year.
“KFC has over 900 restaurants in the UK and employs more than 25,000 people.
“Fort William is the next chapter in our investment.
“We are now recruiting for staff members and we are looking for someone very special from the area to be our manager, and assistant manager.
“We want passionate business leaders who want to make a difference.”
It is expected the business will be opened in late summer, and more than 20 permanent jobs will be created.
Councillor Allan Henderson said: “It is great to see the business finally taking off.
“This KFC has been in the pipeline for some time – but the best news is that it will be creating permanent well-paid jobs.
“Once these projects start they get underway very quickly. The roof is almost on – so I imagine it will only be a matter of months before it is up and running.
“The other thing that a national business like this coming to town does is grows the confidence of others that this is a place that is thriving and ready to do business.
“It also fills those unsightly gaps in the roadside.”
