Business / Companies
KFC reopens in Zimbabwe
22 Jul 2014 at 17:09hrs | Views
KFC reopened in Zimbabwe. The first outlet was unveiled along 2nd Street Extension in Belgravia. Pic Annie Mpalume
American fast food chain KFC has reopened in Zimbabwe after a nearly seven year absence.
The retailer planning to open about 25 outlets in Zimbabwe finally unveiled its shop in Harare on Sunday after more than a year following announcements to restart business in the country.
The new outlet is under a franchise deal with the formerly Shingi-Mutasa owned fuel stations, Zuva Petroleum.
The KFC reopening this weekend follows the entry of popular South African franchise Mugg & Bean last year.
KFC, which had outlets in Harare and Bulawayo, turned its back on Zimbabwe at the height of its economic crisis in 2007.
The franchise reopened after the owners settled a row over chicken imports with authorities which insisted that only locally produced chickens could be served. Chicken producer Irvines Zimbabwe will now supply the chickens.
Businessman Kevin James - owner of Consolidated Farming Investments and a leading investor in the fast food sector in Zimbabwe - is behind KFC's reopening.
Mr James is also the CE of Country Bird Holdings, the third biggest chicken supplier in South Africa.
KFC is likely to challenge the dominance of Innscor Africa group's franchise, Chicken Inn and a rival indigenous outfit called Chicken Slice. However, the Zimbabwean KFC outlet is yet to offer a menu with the same products as its counterpart in South Africa.
The retailer planning to open about 25 outlets in Zimbabwe finally unveiled its shop in Harare on Sunday after more than a year following announcements to restart business in the country.
The new outlet is under a franchise deal with the formerly Shingi-Mutasa owned fuel stations, Zuva Petroleum.
The KFC reopening this weekend follows the entry of popular South African franchise Mugg & Bean last year.
The franchise reopened after the owners settled a row over chicken imports with authorities which insisted that only locally produced chickens could be served. Chicken producer Irvines Zimbabwe will now supply the chickens.
Businessman Kevin James - owner of Consolidated Farming Investments and a leading investor in the fast food sector in Zimbabwe - is behind KFC's reopening.
Mr James is also the CE of Country Bird Holdings, the third biggest chicken supplier in South Africa.
KFC is likely to challenge the dominance of Innscor Africa group's franchise, Chicken Inn and a rival indigenous outfit called Chicken Slice. However, the Zimbabwean KFC outlet is yet to offer a menu with the same products as its counterpart in South Africa.
Source - BDlive
