KFC Africa serves up recipe for inclusive growth

In April 2023, Akhona Qengqe made history by becoming the first African woman to be appointed CEO of KFC Africa. This milestone marked a significant turning point for the brand, as Qengqe’s leadership embodies the diversity and inclusivity that KFC strives to represent.

With over 1,300 restaurants across the continent, KFC Africa is committed to providing high-quality food and exceptional customer experiences.

Under Qengqe’s leadership, KFC Africa is driven by a focus on innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability.

Her commitment to women’s economic empowerment has led to the launch of Women in Franchising Africa (Wifa), a network dedicated to supporting female franchisees and franchisors.

By shattering glass ceilings and paving the way for future generations of women leaders, Qengqe has demonstrated her dedication to creating a more inclusive business environment.

As a leader, Qengqe is known for her inclusive and collaborative approach, empowering team members – particularly women – to take on leadership roles and drive business growth. Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion has fostered a culture of belonging within KFC Africa, where everyone feels valued and supported.

What’s the significance of your appointment as CEO of KFC Africa in April 2023?

The significance, is that, for the first time, KFC’s Africa CEO looks like the majority of our customers and workforce. KFC entered the Nigerian market in 2009. Fifteen years later, I’m proud to lead KFC Africa, overseeing 40 restaurants across Nigeria.

How do you think your background and experiences have prepared you for this role?

My generalist background has put me in a very good place to assume this role. It also gives us an opportunity to relook at the business strategy and ensure we remain relevant for our consumers and investors.

What are some of the challenges that KFC Africa faces, and how do you plan to address them?

We face challenges such as cost increases, consumer sentiment, and domestic factors like the South African energy crisis. To address these, we’re looking at our business model and ensuring we remain profitable despite global events.

How important is digital transformation for KFC Africa’s future growth?

Digital is always part of the conversation. We want to leverage our scale to drive digitization across all our assets and have 100 percent digital stores in the future.

What role does KFC Africa play in supporting entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for young people?

As the biggest QSR brand on the continent, we have a role in allowing entrepreneurs to thrive. We provide employment opportunities and encourage entrepreneurship, ensuring that our contractors and occupants represent our youth population.

How does KFC Africa plan to stay relevant to the youth consumer market?

We’re always thinking of ways to stay relevant to the youth consumer, meeting them at their point of need and providing opportunities. This ties to our goal of painting Africa red and being accessible to as many consumers as possible.

What initiatives has KFC Africa implemented to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion?

We’ve implemented initiatives like Kentucky Fried Pride to foster inclusion and Women on the Move to advance women to meaningful leadership roles. We’ve also launched a global Community of Belonging, Shine, a gender inclusion program.

That’s impressive. What drives KFC’s passion for empowering women in the workplace and economy?

KFC is passionate about inclusion and women’s economic empowerment. We believe that providing women with leadership opportunities and addressing issues like single-income households, family responsibilities, and gender-based violence is crucial.

You launched Women in Franchising Africa (Wifa) last year. Can you tell us more about this initiative?

Wifa is a network for current and aspiring female franchisees and franchisors across Africa. We aim to support women leaders in launching their own businesses and creating a lasting impact on the franchising sector and African economies.

What advice would you give to young women looking to pursue a career in business?

I would say that being in this role is the honor of a lifetime. Having the opportunity to change people’s lives, particularly the lives of African women, is a dream come true. Believe in yourself, work hard, and never give up on your dreams.

What message do you hope your appointment sends to young women and Africans?

My appointment shows that it’s no longer just about the way you look that establishes your role in leadership, but also what you bring to the table regardless of what you look like.

What sets KFC Africa apart from other QSR brands on the continent?

We’ve been willing to invest to uplift the continent and to go into markets where the infrastructure is not as stable as South Africa. Our goal of painting Africa red is our true north.

What does KFC Africa’s goal of “painting Africa red” entail?

We want to be as accessible to as many consumers on the continent – or at least in Sub-Saharan Africa – as we can be. In practice, that means building more restaurants and ensuring people connect with KFC Africa not only from a product perspective but also a brand perspective.

Can you tell us about KFC Africa’s charity program, Add Hope?

Administered by the KFC social responsibility trust, Add Hope feeds 150,000 children daily in South Africa. In fact, we are the biggest source of food for children in the country after the government.

How does KFC Africa approach partnerships with suppliers?

The reason why we’re 52 years strong on the continent is because of how we view our partnerships with our suppliers. We work hand in hand with them, investing in their growth and development to ensure they can meet our high standards.

What are KFC Africa’s strengths, and how does it leverage them?

We know our strengths: preparing the best-tasting chicken and selling it. Our partners enable us to focus on exactly that. When times are tough, the power of such partnerships comes to the fore.

How does KFC Africa plan to drive growth in Nigeria, a key market for the company’s expansion strategy?

We see significant market opportunity in Nigeria, driven by population trends and the strong momentum in the local quick-service restaurant market. We plan to leverage our global expertise and innovation to drive aggressive growth in Nigeria and across Africa.

How does KFC Africa tailor its products and marketing efforts to local tastes and preferences?

We have a close ear to the ground through our franchisees and teams, and we encourage sharing information and trends. We also conduct in-depth formal research to stay abreast of consumer, competitor, and market trends, allowing us to tailor our efforts to resonate locally.

What role do people play in KFC Africa’s success?

People really make a difference in our brand. We are a brand that is a primarily focused on the people that work for the brand and that keep this brand afloat.

What is your vision for KFC Africa’s future?

I would like to see KFC as redefining the QSR experience. We pride ourselves in our freshly prepared food, and we’re committed to maintaining our high-quality standards across all our restaurants.