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BUSINESS STRATEGY
Global pizza chain Papa John’s is expanding operations in Kenya
By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2026
Brand opens two new outlets at filling stations in Nairobi and says it plans six more stores this year.
Papa John’s, the US-based pizza chain which lays claim to being the third-largest in the world, is continuing with its Kenyan expansion strategy and aims to open eight new outlets this year.
Two stores have already been opened in Nairobi in 2026, with more planned for the capital city. It now has nine outlets across Nairobi with the latest stores opened at Shell filling stations along Lavington and Thika roads.
There is also a store in Narok, about 145km from Nairobi. With time, additional outlets will open in other areas of the country – possibly Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret.
The brand, in conjunction with local partner Kitchen Express, made its first foray into sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, when it opened an outlet in Nairobi.
A Papa John’s brand activation in the DRC
At the time it moved into Kenya, the brand intimated that it would use its Kenyan presence as a springboard into other SSA markets. It has since entered the DRC and is also active in North Africa.
Locations at high-traffic filling stations
Targeting high-traffic retail locations at filling stations is a key part of the brand’s Nairobi strategy.
“Pizza brands and quick-service restaurants are increasingly abandoning traditional high-street locations in favour of fuel stops and commuter routes, betting that convenience will outweigh destination dining as traffic congestion worsens,” comments the Kenyan news publication The Standard.
“The shift reflects a change in how food retailers consider location. Where prime real estate once meant visibility on busy streets or anchor positions in malls, operators now prioritise access points that align with existing consumer behaviour rather than trying to create new destinations.
“Petrol stations have emerged as unexpected winners. Motorists already stop for fuel and follow familiar routes, so adding food outlets requires no detour, no search for parking, and minimal additional time in a city where traffic often disrupts daily schedules.”
Globally, the Papa John’s chain has more than 6,000 restaurants in approximately 50 countries and territories. Papa John’s was established in 1984. By store count, it is outranked only by Domino’s and Pizza Hut.
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