CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Oct. 20, 2026 — KFC plans to open 25 additional restaurants in Zambia, expanding its footprint beyond its existing 17 locations as the fast-food chain seeks to create jobs, develop local supply chains and make its products more accessible to consumers.
The expansion will extend the restaurant network into Chingola, Solwezi, Livingstone and Kapiri Mposhi, according to a company statement released Tuesday. KFC also identified 12 additional sites for future expansion across the country, although it did not provide an opening schedule for the planned outlets.
The company currently operates 13 restaurants in the Lusaka area, including a new outlet in Mazabuka that opened in September, and four in the Copperbelt region.
Akhona Qengqe, KFC Africa’s general manager, said the investment reflected confidence in Zambia’s market and the brand’s ability to become part of consumers’ everyday lives.
“Streetwise is us saying: we respect that hustle. We’re built for your life, not the other way around,” Qengqe said, referring to the company’s value-oriented menu offering.
She said the strategy was not simply about competing on price but about making KFC a regular choice for Zambian consumers across income levels.
Each new restaurant is expected to create about 30 jobs, with women accounting for roughly 60% of those positions, according to the company.
“Our commitment is to develop experienced local teams and create pathways for talented Zambians to advance,” Qengqe said.
South African employees supporting some outlets are helping transfer operational expertise to local teams, with the stated aim of building restaurants led and managed by Zambians.
The expansion is also intended to strengthen domestic supply chains, including links to the agricultural sector and local businesses, as KFC seeks to reduce reliance on imported supplies.
“In Zambia specifically, we’re aggressively developing local supply chains to strengthen the agricultural sector and empower local businesses,” Qengqe said.
“We’re committed to building supply ecosystems that reduce dependence on imports and create lasting prosperity,” she said.
The planned openings form part of KFC Africa’s broader expansion strategy. The company says it operates about 1,600 restaurants across 22 sub-Saharan African markets and aims to increase that number to 3,000 by 2035.
KFC, which opened its first African restaurant in Johannesburg in 1971, is one of the continent’s largest quick-service restaurant brands. Its expansion in Zambia will test whether a combination of value-focused products, local recruitment and stronger domestic sourcing can support growth in a market where affordability remains central to consumer choice.
The company did not disclose the total investment planned for Zambia or specify when all 25 restaurants would open.
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