February 1, 2014
How long would you wait for a Whopper?
Last year Burger King opened its doors in Cape Town. And now, it is in Johannesburg. Three locations opened all on the same day, and while we only drove past this one (Rivonia Road), I imagine the queues were the same at all locations. We didn't go in, but I was memorized by how many people there were (there were cops directing traffic at the intersection and a bouncer controlling the waiting customers...). How could I not stop for a photo of half of Johannesburg waiting in their paper crowns for a Whopper?
South Africa does have its share of foreign franchises, but given black economic empowerment requirements in order to open/run a business here, the big multi-national giants have to structure themselves a little differently and play by different rules if they want a piece of the South African pie. For an organization like Burger King for example, Burger King is actually the minority partner in a joint venture with a South African organization, and the joint venture required approval by the South African Reserve Bank in order for the arangement to go ahead (given that royalties would be leaving the country). But hey, if all of this didn't stop McDonald's, why would it stop the King?
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