The Big Square, a restaurant retail chain on Friday expanded their programme by launching its 12th outlet at Shell Service Station Mountain View.
The new outlet cost Sh.45 million which is part of the restaurant’s chain plan to bring an outlet closer to more people in Nairobi.
According to Interstrat Limited Managing Director, McKinlay Sebastian, the outlet occupies 4000sq.ft with a seating capacity of 150 customers and will be creating 60 job opportunities.
The restaurant chain has now opened 12 outlets since it began its operations in 2012 and in the last nine months, Big Square has opened five new outlets with two in the Nairobi CBD, one at Two Rivers Mall, one in Mombasa and now at Mountain View, he explained.
“We will continue to look out for strategic new locations in Nairobi and across the country to meet growing demands of the city population, McKinley said.
Addressing the press on the Big Squares strategic expansion programme and the launch of the new outlet, the Managing Director said that an increasingly globalized environment and Kenya’s growing population and economy is fueling demand for new retail formats that meet customers preferences and aspirations.
He further stated that they are deliberately forging partnerships such as Vivo Energy Kenya and Big Square to have all their outlets at Shell Service Stations.
“We are committed to ensuring that all Kenyans make big square their square,” he said noting that through shell, they will be able to create growth and at the same time memorable experiences for their customers through great food and great service.
The Head of Convenience Retail, Vivo Energy Kenya, Millicent Ndirangu said that its partnership is timely and significant to the companies’ customers as it will enable the diversification of retail services and ensure customers from both companies get added value.
‘’Vivo Energy Kenya is committed to entering strategic partnership that meet the ever – changing needs of their customers. We are keen on being part of the everyday life of our customers who are always on the go to consume products and services in their most convenient and stress freeway,” Ms. Ndirangu said
She added that they will continue to partner with companies such as Big Square so that they deliver value to their customers.
Shareholding of Big Square is a combination of local and foreign investors, including Uqalo a South African-based private equity fund that invested Sh.400 million into the restaurant chain last year.
The capital injection by Uqalo aimed at achieving the group’s plan of operating 20 outlets within the next three years. Uqalo which targets investments located in East Africa is primarily funded by Hong Kong-based supply chain on logistics Conglomerate Fung Group.
By Nancy Marende/Hillary Wangila
