Restaurant Franchising: KFC, Subway, Steers: Talking restaurant franchising in East Africa

In the last five years a series of international restaurant franchises have opened in East Africa. American chains KFC, Naked Pizza and Subway; South African brands Big Square and Adega Restaurants, and UAE-owned Caramel Restaurant & Lounge are some that have launched in recent years.

More are set to open in coming months, including Mugg & Bean, a division of South African restaurant franchise group Famous Brands, and seafood chain Ocean Basket.

Fast-food franchise boss Azam Samanani says the “opportunity is obvious” in the food business. Samanani is managing director of Hoggers Limited, the Kenyan franchise holder for South African brands Debonairs Pizza, Steers and Ocean Basket.

“We have a growing population and a growing economy, and everyone likes to eat. There is also an additional value with established food brands,” he says. “It’s clear globally that Africa is the place that everyone wants to be, and when you look at the high-performing regions… East Africa is one of the obvious ones. It has infrastructure, a growing population and sophisticated clientele.”

“So all the fundamentals are there and, from an international standpoint, it seems to be less risky and also simpler compared with other regions.”

Read more: KFC, Subway, Steers: Talking restaurant franchising in East Africa

Arab Spring Part Two: Unrest in Bahrain getting worse

Even though Bahrain has been in turmoil since the Arab uprisings began a year ago, with thousands taking to the streets to demand democratic reform. The events there have been overshadowed by those in Syria, but are probably just as bad or even worse than in Syria say some observers.

The leading opposition party Wefaq was involved in backroom talks during a pro-democracy uprising last year on reforms offered by Crown Prince Salman, but the they were cut short when Saudi troops entered Bahrain and martial law was imposed.

Unrest in the Saudi Eastern Province has also flared again in recent months, with Shia activists taking heart from the predominantly Shia protests in Bahrain.  Earlier this month, an estimated 100,000 civilians filled the streets in what, according to observers, has been the largest demonstrations the gulf nation has experienced since protests began last year.

The continued crackdown of the near-daily protests since then prompted a U.N. condemnation on Tuesday of the Bahraini security officials' "disproportionate use of force" to suppress protesters.

On the same day, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, one of the few human rights advocacy groups operating in the country, released evidence of the deaths of two civilians last week from tear gas asphyxiation.

Mattar Ebrahim, a senior figure in Wefaq, said he could not confirm any meetings had taken place but said the Saudis were keen to see stability in Bahrain to improve their own situation. 

EU-Digest