US fast food chain Hardee’s set to open debut JKIA outlet

CKE Restaurants Holdings — owner of the Hardee’s brand — said the inaugural outlet set to open in July will be located at JKIA’s Terminal 1A departure lounge.

Hardee’s, known for its charbroiled burgers, currently has 37 restaurants in Egypt and operates a total of 2,100 stores in 39 markets globally.

“We see a very positive business climate for a brand like Hardee’s in Kenya and Africa as a whole,” said CKE Restaurants in an interview with the Business Daily. “Hardee’s will bring a quality product to millions in Africa who want affordable gourmet burgers.”

Burgers are believed to be Kenya’s most popular fast-food after chicken-and-chips. California-based CKE Restaurants Holdings is the Carl’s Jr brand, another burger chain, and acquired Hardee’s in 1997 — creating a conglomerate with 3,664 franchised or company-operated stores across the world.

Afro American Food Company Ltd is the franchise owner for Hardee’s in Kenya. CKE Restaurants declined to disclose the amount invested by the franchisee in setting up Hardee’s in Nairobi.

Hardee’s’ planned entry into Kenya affirms Nairobi’s status as the region’s foodie hub and comes at a time when foreign restaurant chains have been jostling to set up shop in East Africa’s biggest economy.

READ: Nairobi’s growing wealth attracts world’s food chains

CKE Restaurants also revealed that it is currently in talks with an investor to open stores in Ethiopia.

CKE Restaurants said it wants to take on international fast food chains as well as local restaurants opening in Kenya.

“To date the African market has been dominated by KFC and local chains,” the burger company said.

The entry signals tough competition for Pizza Hut which has acquired the Kenyan operationsof yet another American brand, Naked Pizza, in what is shaping up to be a head-to-head battle with existing players that sell burgers including Steers, KFC, Big Square, Urban Gourmet Burgers, and Burger Hut, among others.

The Kentucky-based Pizza Hut, South African seafood chain Ocean Basket, American fast-food giant KFC, sandwich chain Subway, ice cream seller Cold Stone Creamery, Japanese firm Toridoll and Domino’s Pizza are some of the big players who have recently opened stores in Kenya.

Naked Pizza this week exited the Kenyan market after its stores were acquired by Pizza Hut. Kenya is Pizza Hut’s fourth market in the continent after South Africa, Zambia and Mauritius and the chain restaurant plans to expand to Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ghana and Angola.

McDonald’s has already invited investors to put in applications for a Kenya franchise, sending out the strongest signal yet of its plans to open shop in Nairobi.