In Kenya, the fast-food segment is dominated by numerous international American brands. In a country already home to KFC, Subway and Domino’s Pizza, Papa John’s also has ambitions.
Announced since 2022, American Papa John’s will finally enter the Kenyan fast-food segment in September. In detail, the world’s third-largest pizza maker plans to open its first outlet in Nairobi.
For this new venture on African soil, Papa John’s has teamed up with Kitchen Express, a foodservice operator affiliated to the Hass Petroleum Group that currently operates over 140 service stations in 10 African countries, following an agreement signed between the two companies in 2021.
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With this partnership, Kitchen Express also holds exclusive rights to the American brand in Kenya and Uganda. More globally, the group plans to open a total of 13 outlets by December 2024 in East Africa’s leading economy, as part of a strategy to strengthen its presence on the African continent and particularly south of the Sahara.
“Moving into sub-Saharan Africa for the first time is a great opportunity for Papa John’s to deliver on its promise and continue its global momentum as a brand,” said Amanda Clark, corporate development director.
Once its outlet is up and running, Kenya will be the 4th country on the continent where Papa John’s has set up shop, after Egypt in 2007, Tunisia in 2016 and Morocco in 2017. Founded in 1984, Papa John’s International has over 5,500 restaurants in 50 countries worldwide.