KENYA – Artcaffe Group, owned by US private equity firm Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), is seeking to expand its foot print in Kenya with the opening of four more outlets in Nairobi.
The new branches will be opened in the next four weeks at Britam Tower in Upper Hill, Shell petrol stations on the Northern bypass, Eastern bypass road and Rhapta road, setting the stage for competition with rival brands such as Java.
“We are planning to open the four branches in Nairobi this December. In total, by end of 2021, we will have 39 outlets all within Nairobi under the Artcaffe banner,” said ArtCaffé’s head of communications Nikki Hartley.
The new branches, according to reports by Business Daily, will serve walk-in customers as well those working at nearby offices.
Artcaffe first opened shop in Kenya in 2009 and has expanded rapidly with new openings in Nairobi’s high-end shopping malls.
The coffee chain has also set up a new concept under its umbrella dubbed ArtBakery, with several outlets already operational including one at Westgate Mall and the other on Limuru Road.
The new outlets are coming at a time Kenya has seen an increase in branch expansion by local coffee chains such as Java House.
Restaurant businesses have been on expansion and capital raising plans in the race to tap Kenya’s emerging coffee drinking culture and the demand for snacks and meals.
The increased visits to coffee shops are fuelled by Kenya’s expanding middle class with higher disposable incomes to spend on luxury items.
Increased activity in this segment of the market has also coincided with the rise in the construction of new malls in Nairobi offering retailers a concentration of well-heeled shoppers.
Still in East Africa’s leading economy, ecommerce giant Jumia, has partnered with eBee Africa to launch a fleet of electric bicycles, to amplify its logistics capacity for delivery.
The partnership drives cost saving for riders and consumers, while also reducing CO2 emissions.
Currently, Jumia’s fleet comprises fuel-based motorbikes, which are on the road every day in hundreds to deliver products to customers.
The decision to incorporate E-bicycles is consistent with Jumia’s effort to be an environmentally conscious organization.
“The most exciting thing about e-bicycles & EVs more generally, is that they make business sense! It’s a win-win for society and the bottom line.
“This pilot with eBee is the beginning of a conscious push across Africa into EVs. We hope we can play a part, as early adopters, in speeding up the penetration of the industry in Africa,” said Jumia Services Country Manager, Ankur Agarwal
The move will yield cost reductions, which will eventually flow through into lower delivery fees for consumers, as well as higher incomes for riders.
The use of E-bicycles has also taken center stage in South Africa as Bolt Food recently partnered with Cape Town’s Pathway Cycles to fashion food delivery.
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