Food Concepts

What Food Concepts does

Food Concepts Plc is a Lagos-headquartered, publicly-listed Nigerian quick-service restaurant (QSR) operator incorporated in December 1999 (operating since 2000) that owns, operates, and franchises three consumer brands — Chicken Republic (its flagship, a soulfully-spiced chicken QSR established in 2004 and recognized as Nigeria's #1 QSR), PieXpress (pies and baked goods), and The Chop Box (traditional Nigerian cuisine) — across more than 205 stores in 25+ Nigerian states and Ghana, serving approximately 15 million customers annually. The company's operating backbone is a Central Kitchen and Pie Production facility in Lagos that holds proprietary West African spice recipes as trade secrets, paired with a 99% locally-sourced supply chain, refrigerated distribution fleet, effluent treatment and bio-digester systems, and SAP-based enterprise management. Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining company-owned restaurant operations (sales from in-store dining, online delivery, and catering), franchise joining fees (USD $25,000 for Chicken Republic; USD $5,000 for PieXpress), ongoing royalties (5% of monthly revenue), and marketing contributions (4% Chicken Republic; 3% PieXpress), with franchise terms of five years renewable at 50%. The platform is backed by pan-African private equity — Development Partners International holds a 51.86% controlling stake through ADP II Holding 12 Ltd, with African Capital Alliance holding ~31% following its October 2021 secondary purchase — and is led by CEO Kofi Abunu (appointed March 2022, former McDonald's UK, Nando's, and Steers operator) with oversight from an institutional PE board.

Name

Food Concepts

Legal name

Food Concepts Plc

Website

https://foodconceptsplc.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Food Concepts Plc is a Lagos-headquartered Nigerian QSR operator that owns, franchises, and supplies ingredients for 205+ Chicken Republic, PieXpress, and The Chop Box restaurants across Nigeria and Ghana, serving approximately 15 million mass-market consumers annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quick-Service Restaurants

NAICS

Special Food Services (7223), Food Manufacturing (311), Retail Bakeries (311811), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812), Bakery Products (2050), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Prepared Meat & Seafood Entrées with Sides (Complete Meals) (AFANAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Prepared Meat Meals (RTE/RTH) (AFANAFAA), Foodservice/Institutional Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (Bulk/Portioned) (AFANAFAK), Poultry Shops (CRAHAHAD)

Keywords

• Quick service restaurants
• Baked goods production
• Franchise operations
• Nigerian cuisine
• Poultry and pies

Headquarters

HQ city

Ilupeju

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Company-Owned Restaurant Operations: Revenue from direct operation of Chicken Republic, PieXpress, and The Chop Box restaurants across Nigeria and Ghana. Includes in-store dining, takeout, and catering services.
2. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Initial franchise joining fees (USD $25,000 for Chicken Republic, USD $5,000 for PieXpress), ongoing royalty fees (5% of monthly revenue), and marketing contributions (4% for Chicken Republic, 3% for PieXpress). Franchise agreements run for 5 years renewable.
3. Online Delivery: Direct online delivery business growing at over 140% year on year, serving customers through digital channels

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Food Concepts Plc operates and franchises multi-brand quick-service restaurants and baked goods outlets in West Africa, including Chicken Republic (signature Soulfully Spiced chicken meals), PieXpress (pies and pastries), and The Chop Box (traditional Nigerian cuisine). The company runs its own Central Kitchen and Pie Production facilities to supply all locations, sells through both company-owned and franchised stores, and offers online delivery and catering services. It also generates franchise-related revenue through joining fees, royalties, and marketing contributions.

Product overview

Food Concepts Plc operates a multi-brand quick-service restaurant platform in West Africa (primarily Nigeria) with three flagship brands: Chicken Republic (signature soulfully-spiced chicken and sides, recognized as Nigeria's #1 QSR), PieXpress (pies and baked goods with centralized production), and The Chop Box (traditional Nigerian cuisine targeting the mass market). The company also operates a centralized Supply Chain Division with Central Kitchen and Pie Production facilities, supporting all brands through integrated procurement, warehousing, and logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chicken Republic: Nigeria's leading quick-service restaurant brand offering Soulfully Spiced chicken meals with authentic West African herbs and spices. The flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, established in 2004.
• PieXpress
• The Chop Box

Products and services

• Chicken Republic Quick-service restaurant brand offering signature Soulfully Spiced chicken meals and sides, featuring authentic West African herbs and spices; targeted at mass-market Nigerian consumers seeking affordable QSR meals. Includes brick-and-mortar outlets and online delivery.
• PieXpress Bakery and pie brand catering to on-the-go customers, offering a diverse range of pies and pastries at affordable prices. Some PieXpress stores operate on solar energy systems. PieXpress products are produced at the centralized Pie Production facility in Lagos.
• The Chop Box Traditional Nigerian food brand offering authentic dishes such as Jollof Rice and Egusi Soup, targeting the mass market base of the pyramid consumer segment seeking traditional Nigerian meals with world-class execution.
• Chicken Republic Franchise Franchise offering for entrepreneurs to open and operate Chicken Republic restaurants in West Africa. Joining Fee USD $25,000; 5% royalty on monthly revenue; 4% marketing contribution; 5-year renewable term.
• PieXpress Franchise Franchise offering for entrepreneurs to open and operate PieXpress pie and bakery outlets in West Africa. Joining Fee USD $5,000; 5% royalty on monthly revenue; 3% marketing contribution; 5-year renewable term.
• Catering Services Catering services for events and special occasions, leveraging the multi-brand QSR food production capabilities, contactable via +234 (0) 809 016 5972/3 or [email protected].
• Improved Smokey Jollof Recipe Updated Smokey Jollof menu item with richer flavour and greater consistency, available at all Chicken Republic locations across Nigeria as part of the brand's ongoing menu innovation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 140%+ year-on-year growth in online delivery business
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Health (Emergency Response Team - Covid-19)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2020Partnered during COVID-19 pandemic to support emergency response efforts including donation of food and cash to support communities most severely impacted by the virus.
• Lagos State Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2020COVID-19 response partnership including support for Yaba Infectious Disease Center and Onikan Isolation Center with food donations and emergency assistance.
• Federal Ministry of Health (Abuja Isolation Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2020COVID-19 pandemic support including food donations to Abuja Isolation Center during the crisis.
• AIICO InsuranceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2020Strategic partnership with AIICO Insurance during COVID-19 pandemic for feeding disadvantaged people and communities across multiple communities in Lagos.
• InfraCreditminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2020Strategic partnership with InfraCredit during COVID-19 pandemic contributing to feeding programmes for disadvantaged communities.
• GiveFood.ngcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2019Food Concepts joined the Givefood.ng coalition to provide affordable value meals and support distribution of meals to Nigeria's vulnerable communities. Partnership includes Citizens Meals4Meals campaign under Chicken Republic where N100 was donated for every Citizens meal purchased online to feed children in need. Resulted in meals for over 700 Nigerian children.
• STEMi Makers AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2019Partnership with STEMi Makers Africa and U.S. Consulate General, Lagos to sponsor the I-Be-Lady O summit, an initiative offering African women transformative growth, opportunities, mentorship and visibility in STEM and key career pathways.
• U.S. Consulate General, LagosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2019Co-sponsored the I-Be-Lady O summit promoting women in STEM careers and leadership across Africa.
• Coca-ColacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundbreaking partnership with Coca-Cola and Glovo for plastic waste reduction and recycling program. Part of company's eco-friendly commitment including transition from single-use plastics to paper packaging.
• GlovocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Coca-Cola and Glovo for plastic waste reduction and recycling program. Glovo serves as delivery partner for eco-friendly initiative.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Steers: South African-origin burger and chicken QSR franchise with strong West Africa presence, including Ghana; competes with Chicken Republic and PieXpress in shared West African geographies.

Direct peers

• Domino's Pizza Nigeria: International pizza QSR operator in Nigeria offering delivery-led service; competes with Food Concepts' brands through franchised delivery, especially in Lagos and Abuja.
• Crunchies Fried Chicken: Nigerian-born fried chicken QSR chain competing head-to-head with Chicken Republic for mass-market consumers in Nigeria, with comparable menu positioning and price points.
• Tantalizers: Long-established Nigerian QSR brand operating multiple locations; directly competes with Food Concepts' brands in the affordable fast-food segment across Lagos and other states.
• Mr Biggs: One of Nigeria's oldest and most recognised QSR chains, owned by UAC Nigeria, offering affordable quick-service meals in a similar mass-market positioning to Chicken Republic.
• Sweet Sensation: Nigerian restaurant chain serving affordable local and continental dishes, competing with The Chop Box and Chicken Republic for everyday dining occasions.
• Mama Cass: Established Nigerian restaurant chain offering a broad menu of local and continental dishes at mass-market price points, competing directly with The Chop Box.

Broad incumbents

• Yum China Holdings: Operator of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell in China; relevant comparable as a large-scale, multi-brand QSR operator in a high-growth emerging market with vertical supply chain.
• KFC Nigeria: Global fried-chicken QSR leader operated through local franchisees in Nigeria; competes with Chicken Republic for fried-chicken occasions while bringing multinational marketing firepower.
• Nando's: International flame-grilled peri-peri chicken chain with significant African presence including Nigeria and Ghana; competes on chicken QSR occasions against Chicken Republic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChickenRepublicNigeria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/food-concepts-plc

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Food Concepts