Simbisa Kutuma Buyout Unlocks New Growth for Pizza Inn

Simbisa Kutuma Buyout Unlocks New Growth for Pizza Inn

Quick Reads

• The Simbisa Kutuma buyout saw Simbisa Brands acquire the minority shareholder’s stake in Kutuma Kenya for $664,000.
• The deal gives the Pizza Inn owner full ownership of its Kenyan delivery arm.
• Home delivery now brings in more than a quarter of Simbisa’s Kenya turnover.
• Delivery orders rose 59% year on year, growing more than four times faster than customer volumes.
• Kutuma also serves other merchants through its Yum and Swyft businesses.

Simbisa Kutuma buyout hands the owner of Pizza Inn full control of its Kenyan delivery arm. TechCabal reported that Simbisa Brands bought out the minority shareholder in Kutuma Kenya for $664,000. Simbisa also owns Chicken Inn and Galitos. Kutuma runs Dial a Delivery, which handles orders for the group’s fast-food chains. The acquisition gives Simbisa greater control over the technology and services supporting its delivery operations in Kenya.

The timing makes sense because delivery now drives a big share of sales. Home delivery brings in more than a quarter of the group’s turnover in Kenya. Simbisa said in its annual report that delivery orders rose 59% compared with the prior year. Delivery orders grew more than four times as fast as overall customer volumes in Kenya. This growth highlights the increasing role of home delivery in the group’s restaurant business.

Full ownership also strengthens Simbisa’s hold on a business that serves other merchants. Kutuma runs Yum, which lists restaurants and grocery stores in Nairobi. It also operates Swyft, a delivery service for businesses. Importantly, Simbisa’s restaurants give Kutuma an existing source of orders. Its services to other merchants also allow the delivery business to reach customers beyond Simbisa’s restaurant brands.

Simbisa said it will keep investing in delivery and digital ordering where it expects sufficient returns. Overall, the Simbisa Kutuma buyout fits a wider push toward delivery and digital ordering in Kenya. It also gives the group greater ownership of an operation that already contributes to its business performance.