While hundreds of KFC outlets remained closed in the UK this week due to a chicken supply crisis, the South African outlets are venturing into alternative power sources.
KFC outlets across Port Elizabeth are partnering with clean solar energy provider SolarAfrica to power their businesses using solar energy.
The solar energy solution provides an alternative to owning a solar system, offering fast-food franchises the opportunity to get cleaner energy without paying for the system.
The solar equipment has been installed at four outlets in Port Elizabeth. According to SolarAfrica, planning and timing was crucial as three of the sites operated 24/7, but all sites went live with minimal down time and uninterrupted store time for customers.
Together, all four solar systems will produce savings of up to R410 000 over the five-year term, with projected savings reaching over R2.2 million throughout the full-term contract.
By embracing solar energy, SolarAfrica says the KFC outlets will positively impact the environment by saving more than 130 tonnes of CO2 each year.
Nishid Dosa, MD of KFC franchise, AKM Foods, believes it is every business' responsibly to lessen their carbon footprint and do their bit for the country.
"We looked at solar because of the synergy it has with us and our goal to reduce our carbon footprint. Solar also makes business sense in reducing the energy costs at our stores."
Kobus van Tonder, African programme manager at SolarAfrica, is excited about the latest solar installation at the KFCs and looks forward to the opportunity of advancing the systems at a later stage.
"There is certainly capacity to add more panels and up-size the systems in the future, by considering alternative options such as carports or vacant land for the solar panels, we'd be able to increase their savings even more."
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