SOUTH AFRICA: Student Flukes And Eats At KFC Free For A Year

A 27 year student was been arrested for eating at KFC free for a year by lying that the head office sent him to taste if the food is up to standard.

The 27-year-old University of KwaZulu Natal student fooled KFC employees around Durban, South Africa into thinking he was sent from KFC headquarters for quality assurance.

He was so convincing that it took them almost two years to realise he was robbing them.

When he arrived we all try to act our best so that we don’t piss off the man from head office, he was so convincing because he was so confident and even colleagues from other KFC’s knows him, a KFC staffer said

The man would arrive in a limousine driven by his friend, very smartly dressed with a name tag labelled “head office”.

The anxious KFC workers would be at his beck and call, giving in to all his demands with no suspicion whatsoever.

When he comes in he rushes to the kitchen and checks everything taking notes and then asks for samples of whatever he wants. He probably worked for KFC before because he knows everything, said one of the employees.

But now KFC has denied claims that a UKZN student got free meals for a year by posing as an inspector from head office.

The story has gone viral, with several international publications reporting on it - but KFC South Africa is calling it fake news.


Tourism Observer

KENYA: Java Group To Expand In Kenya With Addition Of Nairobi And Mombasa Outlets, Spending Sh100m

Java House will spend Sh100 million on opening two new branches in Nairobi and Mombasa in the next three weeks.

Java booked space at Astrol Petrol station on Lenana Road in Nairobi and at Diani Centre Point, formerly Nakumatt building, on the Diani Beach Road in Mombasa.

The Diani Centre Point branch will be the first Java House outlet in Kwale while the Astrol Petrol Station branch will be the 41st in Nairobi.

We will be opening one more branch in Kilimani area at Astrol Petrol Station just along the Lenana Road and at Diani Centre Point in Kwale in the next three weeks, says Nairobi Java House group CEO Paul Smith.

It will take each branch takes up to Sh50 million in order to get it ready and up to the standards we have set.

The Astrol branch in Nairobi will accommodate up to 140 customers at a go while the Diani Centre Point branch will accommodate up to 64 customers.

Java Group, in which an American private equity firm has bought a majority stake, is the biggest restaurant chain in the region with 64 branches.

It is followed by fast-food brand Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Art Caffe restaurant and Subway.

KFC already has 31 branches, nine in Uganda, five in Tanzania and 17 in Kenya.

Art Caffe, on the other hand, has 12 branches in Kenya. America’s fast-food chain Subways has 12 branches, eight in Kenya, three in Tanzania and one in Uganda.

Uganda-based coffee chain Cafe Javas has entered the local market with a new branch in Nairobi, raising competition for Kenya’s restaurant operator Java House.

Cafe Javas’ new outlet, operating under the name CJ’s, is located at the junction of Biashara and Koinange streets.

The firm’s expansion into Kenya raises its rivalry with Java House with which it was embroiled in a trademark war in its Ugandan home market.

Java moved to the Uganda High Court in 2016 after Mandela Group of Companies, which owns Cafe Javas, successfully objected to the registrar of trademarks’ acceptance of the Nairobi Java House name.

The court gave the coffee house a go-ahead to register name as a trademark and to operate its restaurants.

Justice Christopher Izama last year ruled that no evidence had been produced to prove that customers could easily confuse the two restaurant brands.

Cafe Javas has seven branches within Uganda’s capital Kampala and an additional outlet at Victoria Mall in Entebbe.

Java operates 65 branches across East Africa in addition to outlets under Planet Yoghurt and 360 Degrees Pizza brands.

Java House has set aside Sh5 billion in a renewed expansion drive over the next five years.

About 80 per cent of the firm’s expansion drive will focus on opening more outlets in Kenya.

Java Group is the biggest restaurant chain in the region, followed by fast-food brand Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Art Caffe restaurant and Subway.

Artcaffe, which has 12 branches, has been the main competitor for Java House until recently when smaller coffee houses including Kaldis and Connect set up in Kenya.

In February this year, the upmarket coffee chain unveiled Artcaffe Fairtrade Coffee Blend from coffee sourced in Nyeri and Machakos to grow its revenue streams.

The product is available at all its outlets for Sh290 served in a French press while a 250 grammes ground box goes for Sh690.

America fast food chain Subway has 12 branches in the region — eight in Kenya, three in Tanzania and one in Uganda.

Java Group will inject up to Sh1 billion in expansion drive this year cementing its place as the number one restaurant chain in the region.

Chief executive Ken Kuguru said the firm would open new outlets in emerging towns and within major cities in the country to grow its branch count and create new revenue streams.

The firm will also simultaneously explore new markets in the East African region but most of the new investments are expected to be in Kenya.

Java Group is the biggest restaurant chain in the region with 64 branches, followed by fast-food brand Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Art Caffe restaurant and Subway.

The KFC has 31 branches in the region, 17 of them in Kenya, nine in Uganda and five in Tanzania. Art Caffe has 12 branches in Kenya.

America fast food chain Subway has 12 branches in the region — eight in Kenya, three in Tanzania and one in Uganda.

Mr Kuguru says that 80 per cent of the firm’s expansion drive over the next five years will focus on opening more outlets within the Kenyan borders.

The five-year strategy is estimated to cost the firm up to Sh5 billion.

Java Group runs coffee outlets under Java House, owns 360 Degrees Pizza and Planet Yoghurt brand.

The 64 branches under the label include 56 coffee outlets. The firm is looking to open at least two outlets of its brands every month.

Java House will invest between Sh500 million to Sh1 billion in new branches as well as advancements in a state-of-the-art central kitchen and commissary facilities, said Mr Kuguru.

Java Group is keen on Meru and Machakos counties, where it will open its first branches of the year.

The expansion drive indicates a shift to the counties after the devolved governments were established in 2013.


Tourism Observer

KENYA: Cafe Javas Opens In Nairobi As CJ's

Uganda coffee chain Café Javas has entered the local market with a new branch in Nairobi, raising competition for Kenya’s restaurant operator Java House.

Café Javas’ new outlet, operating under the name CJ’s, is located at the junction of Biashara and Koinange streets.

The firm’s expansion into Kenya raises its rivalry with Java House with which it was embroiled in a trademark war in its Ugandan home market.

Java moved to the Uganda High Court in 2016 after Mandela Group of Companies, which owns Café Javas, successfully objected to the registrar of trademarks’ acceptance of the Nairobi Java House name.

The court gave the coffee house a go-ahead to register name as a trademark and to operate its restaurants.

Justice Christopher Izama last year ruled that no evidence had been produced to prove that customers could easily confuse the two restaurant brands.

Café Javas has seven branches within Uganda’s capital Kampala and an additional outlet at Victoria Mall in Entebbe.

Java operates 65 branches across East Africa in addition to outlets under Planet Yoghurt and 360 Degrees Pizza brands.

Kenya based Java House has set aside Sh5 billion in a renewed expansion drive over the next five years. About 80 per cent of the firm’s expansion drive will focus on opening more outlets in Kenya.

Java Group is the biggest restaurant chain in the region, followed by fast-food brand Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Art Caffe restaurant and Subway.

Artcaffe, which has 12 branches, has been the main competitor for Java House until recently when smaller coffee houses including Kaldis and Connect set up shop locally.

In February this year, the upmarket coffee chain unveiled Artcaffe Fairtrade Coffee Blend from coffee sourced in Nyeri and Machakos to grow its revenue streams.

The product is available at all its outlets for Sh290 served in a French press while a 250 grammes ground box goes for Sh690.

America fast food chain Subway has 12 branches in the region — eight in Kenya, three in Tanzania and one in Uganda.

Java Group will inject up to KSh1 billion in expansion drive this year cementing its place as the number one restaurant chain in the region.

Chief executive Ken Kuguru said the firm would open new outlets in emerging towns and within major cities in the country to grow its branch count and create new revenue streams.

The firm will also simultaneously explore new markets in the East African region but most of the new investments are expected to be in Kenya.

Java Group is the biggest restaurant chain in the region with 64 branches, followed by fast-food brand Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Art Caffe restaurant and Subway.

The KFC has 31 branches in the region, 17 of them in Kenya, nine in Uganda and five in Tanzania. Art Caffe has 12 branches in Kenya.

America fast food chain Subway has 12 branches in the region — eight in Kenya, three in Tanzania and one in Uganda.

Mr Kuguru said that 80 per cent of the firm’s expansion drive over the next five years will focus on opening more outlets within the Kenyan borders.

The five-year strategy is estimated to cost the firm up to Sh5 billion.

Java Group runs coffee outlets under Java House, owns 360 Degrees Pizza and Planet Yoghurt brand.

The 64 branches under the label include 56 coffee outlets. The firm is looking to open at least two outlets of its brands every month.

Java House will invest between Sh500 million to Sh1 billion in new branches as well as advancements in a state-of-the-art central kitchen and commissary facilities,said Mr Kuguru.

Java Group is keen on Meru and Machakos counties, where it will open its first branches of the year.

The expansion drive indicates a shift to the counties after the devolved governments were established in 2013.


Tourism Observer

Faecal Substance Found In Popular Food Chains In UK After Testing

The reason why some people are cynical about eating food outside is that one can never really be sure about what they are being served. From stale to purely adulterated the quality of the food is always questionable.

Just to validate it for you, in a test run by BBC's Watchdog programme, faecal bacteria has been found in ice at McDonald's, KFC and Burger King across the UK.

More than 10 random branches of these popular food chains were examined and bacteria, known as faecal coliforms was found. 3 McDonald's samples, 6 of Burger Kind samples and 7 of KFC samples were found contaminated.

The ice at all these stores was tested for coliforms and has been advised 'not-safe' for human consumption.

It's extremely worrying. When we're finding the sorts of numbers we're finding here, you have to look at the people making the ice, handling the ice, which they then transfer into customers' drinks.

And then you also have to look at hygiene failure with potentially the machines themselves,are they being kept clean?

It is pleasing that Escherichia coli (E. coli), the bacterium that is the most accurate and reliable indicator of faecal contamination, was not found in any ice samples from McDonald's restaurants.

Low levels of two other indicator bacteria, coliforms and enterococci, were found in some ice samples.

These can be used as an assessment of water hygiene but, as they are widely distributed in the natural environment, they are not reliable indicators of potential health risks.



Tourism Observer
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HONG KONG; McDonald’s And Cafe de Coral Among Nine Chains Targeted By Public Health Fears

International fast-food chain McDonald’s and listed company Cafe de Coral are among nine restaurant groups targeted by the city’s consumer watchdog in its latest campaign to tackle a major public health risk caused by the use of meat from animals fed by growth-promoting antibiotics.

In a statement published on the Consumer Council’s website, the watchdog said it had written to nine restaurant chains to inquire about their policies on the use of such meat.

It further urged the companies to set a timetable to stop sourcing meat and poultry from animals that were routinely fattened by the supplements. The request came in an effort to halt the spread of deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacteria posing serious health hazards.

The full list of chains targeted are: McDonald’s, KFC, Subway, Yoshinoya, Cafe de Coral, Fairwood, Maxim’s, Tai Hing and Tsui Wah.
Together the chains oversee more than 800 outlets across the city, according to the council.

The watchdog suggested the firms publicise details of their antibiotic-free production policy and that implementation be audited by an independent third party.

In a reply to the Post, Tsui Wah Group, which runs 35 outlets in the city, said the company was looking into the matter.

Local fast-food giant Cafe de Coral confirmed its receipt of the council’s letter and would exchange views with the watchdog on the issue.

Meanwhile, diverse opinions were found on the internet regarding the impact of using antibiotics in livestock production.

Internet user “Ali G” questioned whether antibiotics were really used to promote animal growth, while “Beaker” said: “What short-sighted stupidity, for sake of profit to create resistant superbugs.”

Council chief executive Gilly Wong Fung-han said the watchdog would give the restaurants some time to implement changes.

MONGOLIA: Burger King Opened First Store In Mongolia,

Burger King has opened its first store in sparsely populated Mongolia, joining companies from Pizza Hut to Porsche in anticipating an economic boom from the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine.

Sandwiched between China and Russia, Mongolia has long been dependent on mining and animal herding and still has no McDonald's or Starbucks. But it has begun to see an influx of foreign fast food and other brands. KFC came in 2013, then Pizza Hut last year, and now the world's second-largest burger chain.

The interest in the country of 3 million people comes despite a deep deceleration in growth rates to about 3 percent in the first half of this year from 17.5 percent earlier in the decade. However, after years of deadlock over taxes and royalties, a deal reached in May between the government and mining giant Rio Tinto over the $5.4 billion Oyu Tolgoi mine could help spur renewed growth.

"Now is a good time to be coming in," said Jim Dwyer, executive director of the Business Council of Mongolia.

On the edge of Chinggis Square in the capital Ulaanbaatar, luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Ermenegildo Zegna already have set up boutiques. While these stores are largely empty now, they and others are banking that better times will come.

International car brands that have trickled into Mongolia include Volkswagen and BMW. Porsche opened a showroom in Ulaanbaatar in February with models ranging in price from $70,000 to $300,000.

Jason Broome, in charge of Porsche's Mongolia business, said the local franchise now serves 30 customers.

Burger King has partnered with Mongolian franchisee, Max Group, one of the country's largest conglomerates, engaged in mining, food and beverage, agriculture and real estate. Meal prices range from about $2.5 to $5.5, less than 1 percent of the average monthly salary of $734.

Media company worker Banzragch brought his son to the launch of the Burger King store because he remembered sampling the chain's food overseas and being happy with both the taste and the price.

"Even during harder economic times like now, the price is reasonable," Banzragch, who gave only one name, said at the outlet that opened earlier this month in a busy commercial district of Ulaanbaatar.

Max Group President Ganbaatar Dagvadorj said it plans to open 10 Burger King stores in Ulaanbaatar and then expand elsewhere in the country.

"By bringing Burger King here, we are providing jobs for hundreds of people and looking to expand it to employ thousands," Ganbaatar said.

Also at the launch was student Nyamdavaa, who said she first went to a Burger King while studying in France. "It tastes as good here as it did there," she said.