FRIED chicken chain Miss Millie’s has refused to explain the sudden closure of its Wellington branch with the loss of 30 jobs just days before competitor KFC opened a restaurant 200 yards away from it.

Miss Millie’s is being replaced by Greggs in the Budgens premises owned by the Motor Fuel Group on the Westpark 26 business park, in Chelston.

Greggs which corporately is aiming to double its sales over the five years to 2026, opens at Westpark on Thursday (November 14).

But the Greggs plans have cast doubt over a planning permission it received to open a ‘pod’ on an electric vehicle charging and jet wash site opposite the estate’s McDonald’s restaurant.

It also leaves a question mark over the town’s popular Greggs store in Fore Street, after Costa similarly opened at Westpark and later closed its coffee store in the town centre.

Miss Millie’s, named after a granddaughter of KFC founder Colonel Sanders, opened a concession in the Budgens premises in May of 2023.

Company director Andy Purnell praised Wellington’s ‘amazing, loyal customers’ when celebrations were held for the store’s first anniversary earlier this year.

Mr Purnell said at the time: “We cannot wait to keep serving up our awesome chicken to the people of Wellington for many years to come.”

But the Miss Millie’s outlet suddenly closed while work was being completed nearby on a KFC drive-thru restaurant on the last business park plot fronting the A38 road.

The Wellington Weekly understands Miss Millie’s had not been doing enough business to justify staying open even without a KFC across the road.

However, Miss Millie’s public relations team has repeatedly ignored requests from the Wellington Weekly to explain what had happened.

Similar requests by the newspaper to a public relations agency representing Greggs also went unanswered.

The Westpark Greggs will open 6am to 6pm daily from Monday through to Saturday, with shorter hours on a Sunday.

Royal Mail has this week been delivering promotional offers door to door to encourage Wellington residents to visit the Chelston outlet of Greggs, including free coffee and breakfast rolls.

A Miss Millie’s board spokesperson later told the Wellington Weekly: “We are constantly reviewing our portfolio and from time to time stores do have to close.

“Over the next 12 months, Miss Millie’s is looking to expand the brand in the South West and across the UK, so hopefully customers will not have to wait too long before another Miss Millie’s store opens again close by.”