The restaurant business in Kenya has been growing exponentially over the past few years.  In fact, a casual look at the Nairobi Central Business District shows that a new restaurant is being setup almost every other month. Essentially, restaurant businesses are edging out conventional business operations from most prime locations. And this trend is being replicated in other places in Nairobi such as Westlands, Upperhill, Hurlingham, Gigiri as well as country wide. Further evidence of how lucrative the restaurant business is seen by the rapid expansion of major food chains in Kenya such as Java and the entrance of new international brands in the country. These brands include Kentucky Fried Kitchen (KFC), Urban Eatery, Subway, Dominos Pizza, Pizza Hut amongst others.

In fact, a casual look at the Nairobi Central Business District shows that a new restaurant is being setup almost every other month.

Changing trends in restaurant business in Kenya

Shifting demographics and changing lifestyles are driving the surge in food-service businesses. Busy consumers don’t have the time or inclination to cook. They want the flavor of fresh bread without the hassle of baking. They want tasty, nutritious meals without dishes to wash. In fact, the rise in popularity of to-go operations underscores some clear trends in the food-service industry. More and more singles, working parents and elderly people are demanding greater convenience when it comes to buying their meals.

Whether your dream is to open a traditional foods joint, a conventional continental cuisine, African dishes, a coffee house, cake shop, fast food joint, cafeteria, fine dining restaurant, specialty restaurant or any other type of restaurant, the time is NOW.

Opportunities in restaurant business in Kenya

According to a recent Kenya Food Market report for Nairobi, it’s projected  that, the total spend in restaurants- and eating out more broadly – is anticipated to rise by 77 percent  over the next decade. Though the future looks bright for the food-service industry overall, there are no guarantees in this business. Even the most successful operators will tell you this isn’t a “get rich quick” industry. It’s more like a “work hard and make a living” industry. A hard reality is that many restaurants fail during their first year, frequently due to a lack of planning. But that doesn’t mean your food-service business has to be an extremely complex operation.

How to start restaurant business in Kenya

To help you get started, we’ve compiled this thorough, but easy-to-digest, guide to starting your own restaurant business in Kenya. Whether your dream is to open a traditional foods joint, a conventional continental cuisine, African dishes, a coffee house, cake shop, fast food joint, cafeteria, fine dining restaurant, specialty restaurant or any other type of restaurant, start your business research here.

A hard reality is that many restaurants fail during their first year, frequently due to a lack of planning. But that doesn’t mean your food-service business has to be an extremely complex operation.

We will be writing articles that touch on the following aspects of starting and running a successful restaurant business in Kenya. The key components include:

• Choosing Restaurant Service Styles  (Click here to read article)
• Carving Your Niche in the Restaurant Business
• Writing a Restaurant Business Plan
• Restaurant/Bar Legal Requirements, Licensing (Click here to read article)
• Choosing a Location for Restaurant/Bar Business (Click here to read article)
• Creating a Menu for Your Restaurant/Bar
• Setting up Point of Sale and Restaurant Management Systems (Click here to read article)
• Hiring Employees for Your Restaurant /Bar (Click here to read article)
• Restaurant/Bar Marketing and Promotions (Click here to read article)

Keep checking our blog for more updates.

At SimbaPOS, we do not just offer Restaurant and Bar POS Software in Kenya- we endeavor to provide holistic products, services and information that will ensure your restaurant/bar grows. You can check for more insightful articles like this here, check SimbaPOS pricing, view SimbaPOS Features, read success stories from customers or get in touch with us.