Jun 2008 Financial News

KFC undergoes J$800 million upgrade

Jun 20, 2008

Fast-food giant KFC on Wednesday unveiled its new look at the Old Hope Branch in Kingston as part of an $800- million investment in an islandwide upgrading of the restaurant chain.

This multi-million dollar outlay by KFC involves the construction of five new restaurants, as well as the re-imaging of 12 of its existing stores, and fits into a global upgrade by the franchise.

According to managing director Mark Myers, the vision that has guided the creation of the new look being rolled across the world, is one that is centred around enhanced customer experience delivering top quality menu items and service.
"The re-imaged KFC is about far more than the look of the physical structure," said Myers. "It also pays attention to continuous training of team members to ensure higher service standards," he added.

Myers, who said that the activities were fulfilling the promise made by Restaurants of Jamaica to increase investment in Jamaica, argued that one of the benefits of the investment was the significant contribution that KFC was able to make to local employment, with more than 1,250 currently on the company's payroll.

According to Myers, Restaurants of Jamaica was moving more proactively to capitalise on investment opportunities and was expanding facilities to make the products more accessible to a wider cross section of the population.
He contended that KFC's employment figure is expected to rise substantially by the end of 2009 when the additional new restaurants are opened.

"KFC is already one of Jamaica's biggest private sector employers and this is expected to increase substantially by end-2009," said Myers.

Restaurants of Jamaica operates the KFC and Pizza Hut franchises locally.

Yesterday's re-imaging launch coincides with KFC's 33rd anniversary in the island, on June 18, when the first restaurant was opened at the Old Hope Road location.

So far five KFC branches across the island, including the Old Hope Road restaurant, have already received the new look.

A new restaurant in St Mary, opened last June, the Red Hills Road restaurant, one at Ocho Rios, and the May Pen KFC, all sport the upgraded facade.

The Cross Roads branch is next in line in the re-imaging exercise, which is expected to be completed next year, the fast-food company said.

Source: Jamaica Observer
Website: www.jamaicaobserver.com