Burger King expands in Africa as fast-food chains fight for budget shoppers

EDINBURGH — Burger King has been slashing prices in the US to compete with KFC, McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's to win over budget customers. It has also decided to expand its empire to Africa countries where it expects fast growth to more than make up for shrinking margins elsewhere. Burger King bosses are excited by expectations that the world's fastest-growing cities over the next decade are likely to be in Africa. Conspicuous in its absence from a Financial Times feature on Burger King conquering Africa is the performance of Burger King South Africa, which has about 80 stores but has recorded losses for at least six years. Shareholders blame executives at Grand Parade Investments – which holds the master franchise licence for South Africa – for the company's woes, saying poor decisions such as the wrong choices for store locations have dragged Burger King down. Musical chairs at the top of Johannesburg-listed empowerment company Grand Parade, which has seen at three CEOs in as many years, hasn't helped, either. – Jackie Cameron

By Thulasizwe Sithole

Burger King is in talks to open restaurants in sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, as the US fast-food group accelerates its international expansion to better compete with rival McDonald's, reports the Financial Times.

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