International fast food chains have left questions while unanimously exiting Nairobi CBD at the same time.
In a message to customers, Cold Stone announced that it was moving its pioneer Mama Ngina Street branch to a yet to be disclosed location while Domino’s Koinange Street Branch remains closed under similar circumstances.
While the two are yet to disclose their new locations, the franchises say it is normal for 10 percent to 15 percent of restaurants to relocate each year.
The continued expansion of the franchises in Kenya nevertheless brings less cause for alarm, as it is an acknowledgment of the rise in the number of people with disposable incomes.
The increase in restaurant spend has also been mirrored in the hotel sector.
Most food chains have picked popular addresses in central Nairobi or malls located in high-end areas and leafy suburbs as the optimal locations for their investments.
The collapse of leading retailers has on the other hand interfered with foot traffic in various areas, boosting some while depleting others, forcing re-evaluation of market strategies.