Vivo Energy and Baobab join forces to partner on KFC Namibia

Vivo Energy, the pan-African retailer and distributor of Shell fuels and lubricants, in partnership with Baobab Khulisani, have today agreed to form a new joint venture, trading as Synergy Foods Pty. Ltd. This new joint venture will manage and operate the KFC Namibia franchise, currently operated by Atlantic Chicken Company. Completion of this transaction and related change of franchise owner is subject to legal agreements and regulatory approval. The KFC Namibia portfolio consists of twenty-one (21) restaurants, seven (7) of which are in the Windhoek area alone, with others spread around the country. Synergy Foods plans to invest to grow the KFC business in Namibia and will both refresh and improve current KFC restaurants and look to open new ones, including adding restaurants at Shell branded service stations. Commenting on the transaction, Edward Walugembe, Managing Director of Vivo Energy Namibia said: “Partnering with Baobab in relation to KFC Namibia makes perfect sense for Vivo Energy. We understand that customers at our Shell branded service stations want more than just a fill-up of fuel when they come to our sites. In recent years, we have invested heavily in growing and developing our convenience retail business; including the addition of quick service restaurants at our service stations. We have successfully added convenience and choice for our customers so the introduction of KFC Namibia is a natural development.”