In a country where job creation, economic growth and social development remain urgent priorities, accountability has become just as important as ambition.
That is why KFC Africa’s inaugural Impact Report, titled “Impact, Served Daily,” stands out. Rather than claiming to solve South Africa’s biggest challenges alone, the report demonstrates how measuring social impact with the same discipline as financial performance can create meaningful, long-term change.
Covering 2025, the report showcases the far-reaching impact created by KFC Africa’s 1,573 restaurants across 22 sub-Saharan African countries, revealing that the company’s influence extends well beyond serving meals.
More than a restaurant business
“Chicken is what we sell, but what we serve goes far beyond that,” says Akhona Qengqe, General Manager of KFC Africa.
According to Qengqe, every meal purchased creates a ripple effect that supports employment, strengthens communities, develops future leaders and helps feed vulnerable children.
The report highlights how KFC’s purpose-driven business model connects restaurant growth with broader social and economic progress throughout its value chain, from local suppliers and farmers to schools and community organisations.
Growth that creates opportunity
One of the report’s strongest messages is that business expansion directly creates opportunity.
As KFC Africa works toward its ambition of operating 3,000 restaurants by 2035, every new restaurant contributes to economic development by creating 35 direct jobs while supporting approximately 100 additional jobs across suppliers, logistics partners and local service providers.
Each new location also stimulates investment in surrounding communities and strengthens local infrastructure.
“Growth matters because it serves impact,” explains Qengqe. “This isn’t a corporate social responsibility initiative added onto the business. This is how we do business. When the business grows, people and communities grow with it.”
Investing in people
People development remains a central pillar of KFC Africa’s impact strategy.
During 2025, the company:
- Supported more than 40,000 employees.
- Trained 9,508 team members.
- Provided management training to 1,847 employees.
- Achieved Top Employer certification.
- Found that 93% of employees intend to stay with the company.
- Continued offering employees access to accredited qualifications through the Streetwise Academy, with tuition fully funded by KFC.
The Streetwise Academy has now graduated 202 employees, providing structured career pathways from entry-level restaurant positions into leadership roles.
Chief People, Culture and Purpose Officer Nolo Thobejane says serving people remains at the heart of everything the organisation does.
“When people feel seen, supported and valued, everything changes. Culture isn’t what we say—it is what people experience every day.”
The report also highlights inspiring employee journeys, including individuals who have progressed from restaurant roles into senior leadership positions both in South Africa and internationally.
Fighting child hunger through Add Hope
The report also highlights the continued success of Add Hope, KFC’s customer-powered nutrition programme.
In 2025 alone:
- 35.5 million meals were served.
- 167,560 children received nutritious meals.
- 114 partner organisations participated.
- 3,013 feeding centres operated across South Africa.
Since launching in 2009, Add Hope has raised R1.27 billion through combined customer and company contributions while helping feed more than 1.5 million people.
The programme continues evolving through initiatives such as The Biggest Hunger Hack, where innovative solutions are helping redirect surplus produce to families experiencing food insecurity in partnership with FoodForward SA.
Helping young talent thrive
KFC Africa also continues investing in the next generation through KFC Mini-Cricket, Africa’s largest grassroots cricket development programme.
Since 2009, the initiative has introduced more than 2.5 million children to cricket.
During 2025, the programme reached:
- 119,926 young players
- 4,652 schools
- Supported by 10,090 volunteer coaches
An impressive 75% of the current Proteas Women’s cricket squad began their journey through KFC Mini-Cricket.
“This is where potential is sparked,” says Qengqe. “We invest in young people early so they can see what’s possible.”
Supporting inclusive economic growth
The report also shines a spotlight on Chain Reaction, KFC Africa’s supplier development initiative that is helping accelerate the inclusion of black women-owned farms into the company’s supply chain.
By creating opportunities for emerging agricultural businesses, the programme supports broader transformation while strengthening local food production and supply networks.
Measuring what matters
For KFC Africa, publishing its first Impact Report is not about claiming to have all the answers.
Instead, it represents a commitment to measuring progress, learning from results and expanding programmes that deliver meaningful outcomes.
“South Africa doesn’t need one organisation with all the answers,” concludes Qengqe. “It needs more organisations prepared to measure and grow their contribution.”
As KFC Africa continues expanding across the continent, its message is clear: business growth and social impact are not competing priorities—they grow stronger together.
