UAE-based halal certified fast-food chain ChicKing to whet Kenyans’ appetite for fast food
KENYA – ChicKing, Halal international quick-service restaurant (QSR) brand based in UAE, has announced plans of establishing presence in the Kenyan market.
The fast-food chain has entered into a partnership with a newly formed local franchise M/s Crispy Ltd, and seeks to open 30 outlets in the East African nation over the next five years, starting with Mombasa in June 2022.
According to reports by Business Daily, other than setting base in the coastal town of the country, the fried chicken specialist will also open outlets in the capital, Nairobi.
Established in 2000, ChicKing has more than 230 stores present in 27 countries, including Ireland, Indonesia, India, Hungary, the Maldives, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, as well as in the UK, Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Its menu features a wide variety of offerings to include grilled chicken, chicken Strips, mexita, burgers, wraps, taco wrap and chicken bites, and fries featuring globally inspired flavours.
Its entry into the Kenyan market comes months after British halal fast food chain, Chicken Cottage, joined forces with Express Kitchen, a subsidiary of AAH Limited, to open 50 outlets under its banner in the next one year across East Africa.
Chicken Cottage seeks to leverage on AAH’s Hass Petroleum service stations in the region totalling about 150 in ten countries.
This will introduce a fusion menu of halal grilled and fried chicken to consumers in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its menu also includes chips, burgers and wraps.
By setting up in Kenya, ChicKing, which has seen rapid growth in international markets in recent years, will also be taking on rival international brands that have long set base in Kenya such as US-based fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Burger King, Sandwich chain Subway, Japanese firm Toridoll, among others.
Another new entrant into the Kenyan fast-food market is US pizza chain Papa John’s through a partnership with Express Kitchen.
The pizza delivery outfit will embark on its Sub-Saharan Africa exploration with the opening of four restaurants in 2022, beginning with Nairobi.
Under its expansion plan, the pizzeria targets to open 60 restaurants in Kenya and Uganda.
These global players are turning to emerging markets such as Africa for growth, attracted by rising disposable household incomes, fast economic growth, and a young population, according to a study by McKinsey & Co.
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