Vivo Energy Namibia says it will continue with its partnership with Simbisa Brands, owners of fast food brands, Chicken Inn and Pizza Inn at some of its Shell service stations, despite Vivo Energy and Baobab Khulisani having acquired rights through its joint venture business Synergy Foods to manage and operate the KFC business in Namibia.
This comes as the company which also has Spur Grill & Go and Spar Express in some of its service stations, said the partnerships have been a boon to its business.
“Vivo Energy Namibia has begun to attract more customers for our food-to-go offerings, and the addition of partnerships such as Spur Grill & Go, Chicken Inn and Pizza Inn; and Spar Express have been central to this growth. This has led to a massive shift in how people view our sites and the offering we can provide,” Vivo Energy Namibia Corporate Communications Manager, Lazarus Nafidi told The Brief.
“We will continue to build on these existing food alliances to create a more inclusive convenience retail offering, which in various locations around Namibia have complemented the local shop offer (Shell Select) very well.”
He said the KFC partnership had brough convenience and choice for its customers.
“KFC and Vivo Energy makes perfect sense to us. As a Shell licensee, operating over 70 service stations countrywide, we understand that customers want more than just a fill-up of fuel when they come to our sites. In recent years, we have invested heavily in growing and developing our convenience retail business; including the addition of quick service restaurants at our service stations,” he said.
“KFC additionally provides a Drive Through option, which for us delivers a solution to the current government-imposed restrictions to fight COVID-19 transmissions.”
He said KFC restaurants in the country, mainly located at shopping malls and city Centre locations, will be renovated, while new ones will be opened at Shell Service stations based on based on market opportunities, with the latest having opened in Rundu.
“We are looking to invest in order to grow the KFC business in Namibia,” Nafidi said.
Synergy Foods currently operates 21 KFC restaurants in Namibia, 7 which are in the Windhoek area alone, with Vivo Energy Namibia operating over 70 service stations.
