ST ANN, Jamaica – Arya Resort Management Group has opened its fourth BirdShack Fried Chicken outlet in Jamaica following Friday’s official opening of a store in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

The investment is valued at $70 million.

Some 30 people are now employed at the first St Ann BirdShack Fried Chicken restaurant.

According to chief executive officer (CEO), Wayne Cummings, plans are in place to open a second outlet in St Ann in May, which will increase the number of stores islandwide to five.

“With another store on track to be opened in Drax Hall, St Ann in May 2024, we are well on our way with our goal of having a store in every major town in the island,” Cummings is quoted as saying in a release from the Arya Resort Management Group.

“We opened our first store in April of 2022 at Whitter Village, Montego Bay. From there, a second store was opened at Barnett Tec Park in September 2023 and Barnett Street, downtown Montego Bay, last December,” he added.

According to Omar Robinson, chief operations officer and franchise partner, the Arya Group is hopeful that the new Ocho Rios location will experience similar success as the recently opened Barnett Street, Montego Bay location.

“The Barnett Street store is the real star now. It is doing very well and exceeding all expectations. We are expecting the same kind of buzz in Ocho Rios,” Robinson said.

-Horace Hines