US laundry firm set to open nine outlets in Nairobi estates

What you need to know:

Alliance Laundry Systems plans to franchise the brand to local entrepreneurs and help them to replicate the commercial laundromat model locally.
It is targeting to have nine branches in Nairobi’s main residential areas, three in Mombasa and a branch in Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret.

A US-based commercial laundry firm Alliance Laundry Systems is planning open shop in Kenya with an eye on the expanding middle-class professionals seeking cleaning services.

Alliance Laundry Systems plans to franchise the brand to local entrepreneurs and help them to replicate the commercial laundromat model locally. It is targeting to have nine branches in Nairobi’s main residential areas, three in Mombasa and a branch in Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret.

The firm has set aside over Sh103 million ($1million) to set base in Kenya, to offer training to interested entrepreneurs locally and market its services.

The firm plans to tap opportunities in various sectors including education, serviced and un-serviced apartment blocks, temporary housing.

Alliance Laundry Systems plans to roll out its services in Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania after setting base in Kenya.

Regional Sales Manager Sub-Saharan Africa, Jean-Paul Mailhac alliance says the US firm will seek to capitalise on the slow uptake of laundromats in the country by observing global best practices and training of its workers.

“We have already witnessed that Kenyan entrepreneurs are passionate about a laundromat. Kenya is the country from where we have received the most inquiries by far. It is quickly becoming a need in this society as people spend a lot of time and effort on their looks,” said Mailhac.