SOUTH AFRICA – Fast food chain KFC has opened doors to a modern high-tech restaurant concept in Cape Town, South Africa, featuring digital menus, self-service kiosks and a two-lane drive-thru, that’s designed to make customer service quicker, easier and more seamless.
In a first for the restaurant brand in Africa, this store is fashioned with digital menu boards in each of the dual-lane drive-throughs.
It also boasts of dedicated self-service kiosks for walk-in customers, a dedicated window for delivery drivers, digital menu boards and “the latest in connect kitchen technology” to ensure the correct amount of stock at all times, KFC explains.
The fast-food brand states that there’s also better-quality management, giving the consumer a guarantee of a great end product.
“The sum of this design puts the power of ordering and food fulfilment in the hands of the customer as well as gives employees an opportunity to focus on the back of house and getting food out quicker – this culminates in a superior customer experience,” says Thuthuka Nxumalo, chief operations officer at KFC Africa.
“But, most importantly, this store has created yet another stream of employment for the local community, employing 25 team members and with the scope to employ at least another five imminently – all of which are employed from local township community Khayelitsha,” continues Nxumalo.
KFC said that the store is pioneering a new approach to the quick-service food market, which has shifted significantly over the past two years.
“The restaurant business as we know it has changed and as we move into a new era of customer experience, the approach to new restaurants needs to shift too – driven by a shift in preferences and expectations of what brands should be delivering today be it in food, design or experience,” said Thuthuka.
Faithful to Nature trials deliveries using electric 3-wheelers
Meanwhile, Faithful to Nature, a South African grocery online retailer, has introduced three-wheeler electric cargo vans to its express delivery offering in Cape Town, as it journeys towards its goal of becoming a carbon-neutral company.
Just two electric cargo vans have been added to the delivery fleet for the time being. The service will be trialled in Cape Town, servicing express deliveries (within three hours or less) to the Southern Suburbs, City Centre, and Atlantic Seaboard.
If successful, the retailer will be looking to expand into Johannesburg from its Gauteng Warehouse.
The online retailer of natural and sustainable products is among the first to launch these locally-made three-wheeler vans in partnership with Carbon Neutral Express.
These cars, produced by MellowVans, emit no carbon emissions because they run on lithium batteries – not fossil fuels, which make economic and environmental sense considering most urban trips are around 5 km or less, according to Faithful to Nature.
“We’ve always been conscious of our deliveries’ carbon footprint, so when the opportunity arose to use electric vehicles, we were ready for it.
“We are excited to be using electric vehicles made in South Africa, as supporting local and sustainable organisations has always been at the forefront of what we do,” says Paul Cook, CEO of Faithful to Nature.
“Not only will this reduce our carbon footprint, but it also means our customers will benefit from lower express delivery costs, which will decrease dramatically. Orders over R400 will cost only R40, and orders under R400 only R20. It’s better for our planet and our customers,” Cook continues.
Faithful to Nature has taken several steps to improve its environmental impact in the last two years, including introducing carbon-neutral deliveries and 100% plastic-free shipping. Most recently, the business achieved the B Corp certification by being the first African retailer to be awarded this globally recognised certification.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
