Simbisa to pour US$18m into expansion drive

ROBIN PHIRI

Simbisa Brands, a publicly  traded fast food giant, is rolling out a regional expansion programme worth up to US$20m, targeting new outlets in Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Eswatini, alongside a renewed push to deepen local sourcing and sustainability.

Chief Executive Officer Basil Dionisio said the investment marks the next phase of Simbisa’s growth trajectory as the group seeks to scale operations, modernize its network, and enhance customer experience.

“We want to open new stores in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Eswathini, that’s not small about US$18m to 20m,” Dionisio said.

The expansion will be coupled with a comprehensive refurbishment of existing outlets and a strategic drive to secure raw materials within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region, in line with the group’s localisation strategy.

Dionisio underscored that Simbisa already sources 90% of its key inputs, including chicken, flour, and potatoes — locally, while also partnering with domestic packaging suppliers and manufacturers to improve production standards and meet Simbisa’s operational requirements.

“So our vision is to localize as much as possible. Obviously, the local suppliers need to make sure they’re manufacturing at the right price. It’s got to be competitive. You can’t use a paper bag for five cents when you can import it for two cents. It doesn’t make sense. So it’s all about relationships, relationships with the supply chain and trying to get the supply chain to improve their production capacities to give us raw materials,” he said.

Alongside its regional growth plans, Simbisa is taking steps to cut operating costs and improve energy efficiency by piloting solar power solutions across its outlets through a partnership with Zuva Energy, one of Zimbabwe’s leading fuel station operators.

“We’re doing pilot projects now where Zuva are doing all the solar for the service station, for the backcourt, for everyone else, and we’re going to analyze how that works,” Dionisio explained.

The shift toward renewable energy follows growing concerns over the high cost and unreliability of grid electricity and diesel generators, which have long weighed on Zimbabwean businesses.

At the same time, Simbisa is sharpening its focus on digital transformation, investing in data analytics to better understand evolving consumer preferences. The initiative will allow the company to segment its market by age, geography, and spending behaviour, improving product alignment and customer retention.

The US$18m investment signals Simbisa’s confidence in the long-term potential of its key markets, even amid currency volatility and inflationary pressures across the region. Industry analysts say the company’s dual strategy, blending expansion with supply-chain localisation,positions it to sustain growth and hedge against import dependency.

Simbisa, which operates leading quick-service brands such as Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, Creamy Inn, and —–, has been one of the few Zimbabwean-listed companies to sustain profitability and expand regionally despite macroeconomic turbulence.