QSR Brands to rope in developers for new restaurants nationwide

QSR Brands, the operator of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Pizza Hut restaurant chains, is reportedly planing to work closely with major developers nationwide to open new restaurants as part of its new business model.According to Bernama, QSR's managing director, Datuk Mohamed Azahari Kamil said the company wants to tie up with developers that are undertaking integrated township developments. It has also made its first move by collaborating with developer, MCHB, in Negeri Sembilan. Besides that, QSR also forged collaborations with several other major developers in states such as Selangor."It is an ongoing process," he said. Kamil added the tie-up with developers is a "smart partnership where it is not about KFC promoting KFC stores but the developers too are playing that role, while we are also playing the role to promote this new township.” He also said in order for the company to grow, it needs to identify potential collaborators and partners, which it believes "will make it easier for us, both in terms of reducing our cost as well as marketing KFC within the local community."Furthermore, Kamil also revealed it has partnered with TM to offer wifi services for some 1,060 KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants nationwide by January next year."We are going to connect all the stores through the latest payment systems, so that the customers have many options to pay such as through e-wallet,” he added.Its new KFC restaurant in Bandar Sri Sendayan, also its 700th outlet, which had its groundbreaking ceremony last week, is slated to open by September next year. Built on a 0.4047-hectare area, the outlet is expected to offer both dine-in and drive-thru concept. The single-storey restaurant which embraces basic green technology such as solar energy and LED lighting can accommodate about 600 customers.KFC currently serves 20 million customers monthly, with another six KFC restaurants expected to be launched by the end of this year, according to QSR's managing director.Read also: Pizza Hut launches digital concept store in Malaysia, features greeting robot Do quick service restaurants in MY need to pick up pace in embracing change?