Companies

Big Square steps up competition with another CBD outlet

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Big Square store in Karen. The fast food company has been on an expansion spree. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Kenyan fast food chain Big Square is set to open its second branch at Nairobi's Central Business Districts (CBD) this week, days after unveiling the eatery’s first outlet within the city.

Big Square’s latest branch will be at the Junction of Moi Avenue and Mama Ngina Street, a spot that is set to bring competition to the doorsteps of rival fast food joints Pizza Inn and Chicken Inn.

The other CBD branch is location at the junction of Muindi Mbingu and Standard streets. The two CBD investments, Big Square said, cost Sh80 million.

The firm currently has plans to open another branch at the Two Rivers Mall later in December and is also eyeing the counties with plans to enter Eldoret in the first quarter of 2019.

“The second half of 2018 has seen a lot of growth for Big Square. In October we opened a Drive Thru on Mombasa Road at our Bellevue Branch. This was closely followed by a 150-seater branch in Nyali, Mombasa at Cinemax,” said Carolle Kariuki, Head of Marketing, Interstrat Limited, Big Square’s parent company.

“…Additionally, plans are underway to open a branch at Two Rivers Mall in December. This will closely be followed by yet another branch in Eldoret in the first quarter of 2019. We have also earmarked some major towns in the country where we shall have a footprint by end of next year.

The firm’s unveiling of the latest branches and investment plan follows the launch of a drive through joint at Bellevue on Mombasa road earlier in October this year and the unveiling of a 150 seater branch in Nyali, Mombasa at Cinemax.

Big Square has been on the expansion drive following a cash injection it received in March this year after a South-African based private equity fund invested Sh404 million ($4 million) to acquire an undisclosed stake.

The investment firm, Uqalo, said the cash injection on Big Square would help it to footprint from the current nine stores to 30 over the next four years.