Scooters opens in Windhoek

"Scooters Pizza has a vision of expanding our franchise into Southern Africa, and Windhoek's relatively untapped market, with a limited number of fast food alternatives, will provide a strong launching pad into the region, resulting in further growth potential.

"Careful market analysis has shown that Namibians are increasingly taking to fast-food options, and hence, I am confident that that the Scooters Pizza brand will rapidly become established in Windhoek, with consumers embracing the quality, convenience and taste of our meal offerings."

Long-term growth strategy

Currently, Scooters Pizza has 130 stores open in South Africa and in Lesotho. Calitz says that the decision to extend the Scooters Pizza franchise across a national border was reinforced by its holding company, Taste Holdings', long-term growth strategy.

"Last year Taste Holdings focused on marketing and maintaining the Scooters Pizza brand in consumers' minds, and while this is still a priority, our main objective for 2011 is franchise expansion."

Established in 2000, Calitz maintains that its longevity and established brand recognition provides Scooters Pizza with the tools to successfully navigate a new market.

"Through Scooters Pizza's fresh, dynamic and innovative approach, along with proactive management, we are confident that the store will be a strong competitor in the Namibian fast-food market, and challenge traditional fast-food strongholds.

"Ultimately, our advancement into Namibia will also allow for expansion into other parts of Southern Africa, in order to create a stronger portfolio of store developments," concludes Calitz.