Apr 2009 Financial News

KFC to roll out new stores - Old Harbour restaurant creates 51 jobs

Apr 03, 2009

Restaurants Jamaica (ROJ) has identified two new locations for KFC stores, but Chief Executive Officer Mark Myers says it's likely that only one project will be rolled out this year.

"There are still markets we are not tapping into, and others that are underserved," Myers told the Financial Gleaner.

Myers has already identified locations for two stores, but said its likely only one will be built this year.

His new projects will be deve-loped in 'main towns' outside of Kingston, but Myers chose not to disclose the locations for competitive reasons.

Typically, KFC stores cost $100 million to construct, but Myers says given the movement in prices and current economic conditions, he could spend up to $125 million on his new stores.

ROJ, the franchise operators of KFC and Pizza Hut in Jamaica, just this week completed and launched its seventh KFC store in St Catherine that it spent $125 million to establish in Old Harbour, creating 51 jobs in the process.

Efficient customer service

The opening Tuesday expands the national chain to 32 stores.

ROJ now boasts that its restaurants employ 1,675 jobs countrywide.

The new restaurant had 200 customers passing through in one hour on opening day. They had an incentive: vouchers issued beforehand by ROJ to generate interest.

"The whole purpose of the exercise was to evaluate how ready our team members were to deal with that type of pressure, so that we can be absolutely sure of their readiness for the full-scale opening," said Tina Myers-Matalon, ROJ's marketing manager in a company statement.

"Such a test is critical to ensuring efficient customer service delivery, given the fact that the area has a significant population base."

Its latest investment and its expansion plans, Myers said, is a declaration of confidence in Jamaica and the eventual turnaround of the economy.

Bright future

The company also said it would continue to roll out its transformation plan started in 2007 to 're-image' the restaurants for 'casual dining'.

The project began with the upgrade of the Red Hills Road store and has since spread to Hope Road, Cross Roads and South Parade stores, also in Kingston, as well as Old Harbour in St Catherine, Ocho Rios in St Ann, Port Maria in St Mary, and May Pen in Clarendon.

Another four will be done this year - two in Kingston, one in St Catherine and one in Mandeville.

"We continue to see a bright future for the country and believe that this will also redound to the benefit of our organisation as we continue our investment programme," said Myers.


Source:
business@gleanerjm.com
Jamaica Gleaner
Friday April 3, 2009

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090403/business/business2.html