Simbisa Brands to add 31 stores, exceeding 750 by fiscal year-end 2025

Feyisayo Ajayi -
Key Points
  • Simbisa Brands plans to open 31 new outlets and refurbish 44 existing ones by the end of 2025, bolstering its market presence.
  • In 2024, Simbisa exceeded 700 stores, achieving 6% revenue growth and 3.7% higher customer visits despite economic headwinds.
  • Expansion in Kenya continues with new outlets, while strategic closures align with consumer preferences, focusing on high-demand chicken and pizza brands.

Simbisa Brands Limited, Zimbabwe's largest fast-food operator, led by Addington Chinake, plans to open 31 new outlets by the end of its 2025 financial year. This move aims to strengthen its market presence and cater to a growing customer base, with a significant focus on Zimbabwe. 

To complement this expansion, the company will refurbish 44 outlets, enhancing customer experiences and reinforcing its competitive edge.

Sustained growth and operational expansion

Simbisa showcased robust growth in the financial year ending September 2024, adding 47 new counters and bringing its total to 330 trading counters. The company surpassed the 700-store milestone during this period, operating 601 company-owned outlets and 113 franchises across Africa. This expansion underscores Simbisa’s dedication to meeting consumer needs and capitalizing on high-growth markets, positioning the company to surpass 750 stores. 

Strategic investments in brand renewal, particularly for Pizza Inn, alongside product innovations and intensified marketing campaigns, drove increased foot traffic. These efforts resulted in a 6 percent revenue growth to $286.45 million and a 3.7 percent rise in customer count, demonstrating the efficacy of Simbisa’s model of delivering affordable and accessible meals across Africa.

According to Chief Executive Officer Basil Dioniso, five new company-operated counters were launched in the first quarter of the 2025 financial year alone, with 31 more planned by year-end. “We are focused on enhancing customer experiences through strategic refurbishments and new store openings while aligning our offerings with shifting consumer preferences,” Dioniso said in the company’s trading update.

Simbisa sharpens focus on East Africa's fast-food market

Simbisa continues to capitalize on the growing middle-class appetite for fast food in East Africa, especially in Kenya. Recent additions include six new Chicken Inn and Pizza Inn outlets each, and two Galitos locations, bringing the total number of outlets in Kenya to 252. The portfolio now consists of 63 Chicken Inn, 74 Pizza Inn, 36 Galitos, and other complementary brands.

However, the company is also adapting to s6hifting consumer preferences, closing two Bakers Inn and Creamy Inn locations to focus on chicken and pizza offerings. Enhanced delivery services further modernized operations, aligning with evolving customer habits and cementing Simbisa’s position as a leading fast-food operator in the region.

Despite its operational successes, Simbisa faced economic headwinds, particularly in Kenya and Zimbabwe, which pressured profitability. For the fiscal year ending June 2024, profit before tax declined by 21 percent to $21.06 million, down from $26.7 million the previous year, due to inflationary pressures and currency volatility in key markets.

In Zimbabwe, where Simbisa operates 332 outlets—including 103 Chicken Inn, 65 Pizza Inn, and 67 Bakers Inn locations—the company remains focused on sustaining market leadership while managing economic challenges. Simbisa’s agility in navigating market dynamics, coupled with its expansion and modernization strategies, underscores its resilience and positions it as a leader in Africa’s competitive fast-food landscape.