The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mr. Bigg’s

  • ‘Project Re-ignite’ to return Mr. Bigg’s sparkle

    Once the pride of the fast food and Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), Mr. Bigg’s, a subsidiary of UAC Foods Nigeria, is set for a relaunch into the enviable position it once held in the industry.

    To achieve this, the brand has concluded arrangemnts for a special campaign tagged “Project Re-ignite,” a food festival aimed at delighting customers and, at the same time, repositioning the brand as a pace setter in the QSR business in Nigeria.

    The event, to be held in Lagos, is slated to run from February 10 to 11. It will enable Mr. Bigg’s treat its customers to two days of sumptuous delicacies, with full compliments of comedy, fun, music, and other forms of entertainment at a rendezvous tagged “Mr. Bigg’s Food Fest.”

    “This campaign was borne out of the need to meet and exceed consumers’ needs with respect to great meal offerings leading to great eating experience, ambience, variety and personalised services. Hence, the Food Fest is an event billed to converge both lapsed, potential and current consumers of the Mr Bigg’s brand.

    “We want to expand our offerings thereby guaranteeing customers a higher value for the time and money spent. To start with, we have added bitter leaf, Afang and Fisherman soups to our local, home meals and other special delicacies, an official of the company,    Ihekwaba said.

    In addition to these mouth-watering delights, Mr Bigg’s is also going continental as Chinese rice complete with beef and spicy chicken sauces and stir fry potato make supreme entries in our menu”, she reiterated.

    Ihekwaba hinted that the Food Fest woulld eventually culminate in a nationwide fiesta that would strongly reinforce Mr Bigg’s status as industry leader and national brand.

    The Mr Bigg’s Food Fest is targeted at families, youths and young adults with over 2, 000 consumers expected at the event. it is free for all with the best of meals on offer. There will be special gift vouchers for consumers who visit the Food Fest and also Discount Vouchers redeemable at Mr Bigg’s restaurants in Lagos only.

    Consumers can also register online to be part of the fun-filled food fiesta.

  • Mr Biggs marks 30th anniversary with promo

    Mr Biggs marks 30th anniversary with promo

    Mr. Biggs, the ubiquitous UAC restaurant, has launched an in-store promotion with Coca-Cola to celebrate its 30th anniversary and reward its customers nationwide.

    The promo, tagged: “Mr. Bigg’s Shout-out”, was launched at the Mr. Bigg’s first franchisee’s outlet on Marina and was witnessed by some key franchisees across the country.

    They are Mr Bigg’s first franchisee, Pastor Mrs. Titilayo Adeojo; Mr. Bigg’s Ikeja City Mall and Oregun outlets owners, Mrs. Funmilayo Olukogbon, and Mrs Pauline Nwana, Mr. Biggs’ Asaba franchisee. Other stakeholders were also in attendance.

    UAC Restaurant (UACR) Marketing Manager Mrs. Eustesia Ogunnusi, during the launch,+ said: “To mark this milestone, we have launched an in-store promo to celebrate with and reward our customers. Our partner, Coca Cola, has also provided branded 50cl PET drinks with the inscription: ‘’Mr Biggs @ 30’’, to celebrate the brand and excite our customers.”

    Also, Human Resources Manager, UACR, Mr. Bola Olatinwo said Mr. Biggs evolved from reactions to the growing demand for greater variety in fast food offerings of freshly baked, hot snacks and meals.

    The pioneer restaurant had 12 cash points with seats for 108 customers at the same time.

    Narrating how it started, Olatinwo said: “Mr Biggs opened the first restaurant on 51 Marina Street, Lagos in 1986. At that time, only a limited menu of pastries: beef, chicken and apple pies, sausage rolls, doughnuts and beef burgers was available, a far cry from the extensive menu on offer today.”

    He said the second Mr Biggs restaurant opened two years later, in 1988, and thereafter, one restaurant was opened in Lagos every two years. “By 1995, Mr Bigg’s had opened five restaurants in Lagos, and moved to Port Harcourt,” he said.

    According to him, the brand has affected lives in various ways among which are the franchising model of business operation – a platform that creates opportunity for entrepreneurs to put their skills to use in owning and running a Mr Biggs restaurant.

  • Mr Biggs Make a Difference campaign for children

    Mr Biggs Make a Difference campaign for children

    It is that time of the year again when  businesses celebrate the Nigerian child. Mr Biggs, the number one quick srvice restaurant (QSR) brand that focuses on  children and family has launched this year’s children’s day activation tagged Make a Difference Campaign. It’s a two-pronged campaign aimed at connecting with children on their special day and rewarding loyal customers to the brand.

    This marketing initiative leverages on corporate social responsibility (CSR) values to create the needed vibe and hype which resonates with the brand’s target consumers and pull foot traffic to the restaurants.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the brand’s Marketing Manager, Mrs Eustesia Ogunsusi said: “Giving to charity is an age long initiative and as children-friendly and family brand, Mr Biggs seeks to lend credence to this move in a unique manner riding on her expansive network of restaurants to touch lives across the nation in a one–swoop activity. This implies that charity homes benefitting from this event will cut across all regions of the Mr Biggs operations simultaneously. This initiative will be sustained as an annual national campaign.”

    She added that during this year’s campaign, Mr Biggs will partner with Coca-Cola to excite consumers through a combo meal offer. “Customers can enjoy their great tasting Mr Biggs rice and chicken meal with a 50cl Coca Cola PET drink for just N1000.It is a discount offer. And anyone who participates in this activation stands the chance of winning a Mr Biggs meal ticket worth N4,000. This will be decided via an in-store raffle draw.”

    Ogunsusi added that Mr Biggs change collection boxes are also available at the restaurants for customers to drop their change after products are purchased, stating that the proceeds will be collated and given to charity homes. “We are assuring our esteemed customers that all processes will be transparent and customers will be updated regularlythrough the use of the media.This campaign is driven through traditional and newmedia channels. The brand will enjoy maximum exposure on Facebook given its target market to pull foot traffic to the restaurants. There will be alot of in-store communication to reinforce the message and induce buying decision.”

    There will be online activities where customers will earn reward by tagging along, liking the Mr Biggs Facebook page or  activities that will be posted on-line for customers’ participation.

    Customers are therefore advised to get connected at www.facebook.com/mrbiggsonline and be alert for all updates.

    The Campaign begins today and  ends May 31.

  • Mr Biggs arrives MMIA, Lagos

    Mr Biggs, Nigerian’s foremost, indigenous quick service restaurant business and a brand under UAC Restaurants, birthed a new outfit at the E-wing of the departure lounge, close to the British Airways counter, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on November 23.

    The all-new-look eatery, is positioned to serve the increasing needs of international travellers at the MMIA.  This will avail travellers the opportunity to grab a fast meal before boarding their flights without hassles. The challenge of getting affordable hygienic meal to cater for the needs of travellers has been taken care  by the entrant of Mr Biggs brand at the airport. “It’s our good initiative in response to consumer needs,” said Mr Derrick Van Houten, the Managing Executive for UAC Restaurants.

    The mood at the opening of the eatery was joyous and it was easily noticeable on the faces of the customers when informed that  a Mr Biggs restaurant, where they could easily grab a meal before boarding their flights, was close by.

    As part of the marketing initiatives to create awareness and build customer loyalty, customers, who make purchases from the opening day till the next one month will be rewarded with beautifully branded gift items. It’s the Biggs way of appreciating the customers.

    The restaurant offers meals in the following categories: Pastries – Meatpie, Chicken pie, Beef roll & Doughnut; Meals – rice, heritage pottage and farmhouse beans;  Sweets – ice cream & soft serve yoghurt – first of its kind and a variety of cold drinks to go with the meals.

    We are very much aware that the yuletide period is setting in with its beehive of activities and the restaurant is set to relieve travellers the stress of having to plan their meals before arriving at the airport.

    Also, Mr Biggs, the children friendly brand is connecting with schools through the Mr Biggs @ School Fest package this yuletide season. For just N1, 000, schools can enjoy the presence of Mr Biggs brand at their end of year parties.

    Mr Biggs has just emerged as the 2014 Most Trusted Brand in the quick service restaurant category, a brand health award.  They couldn’t have achieved it without their esteemed and loyal customers.

  • Mr Biggs, Coca-cola hold promo

    Mr Biggs, Nigeria’s indigenous quick service restaurant, and Coca Cola are set to reward customers with the first-ever Coke Cup promo.

    The promotion, which will push 120,000 Coca-Cola cups into the homes of many Nigerians, is geared towards giving loyal consumers an adventure to spice up the season. The cups have five colours; black, yellow, green, blue and red. According to the Marketing Manager, Nnenna Azuka-Onwuka, the cups are exquisite and once you collect one colour, you want to collect all five. “It is a collector’s item and we want them in as many homes as possible,” he added.

    Managing Director, UAC Restaurants Limited Derrick Van Houten said: “Between November 22 and January 12, during which the promo will last, consumers can collect, one, more or all of the five cups. These cups are a collector’s item; you don’t want to have one colour and not the other.”

    To collect the cup, a consumer will buy products worth N1,500, including a Coca-Cola product from any Mr Bigg’s Restaurant, and get a free cup. ‘’We see this as an exciting adventure for the consumers as there is always something different to look forward to. It is an interesting quest which will keep the consumers coming back for the next cup colour and then the next one and so on until all five colours have been collected,” Hosten added.

    Mr Bigg’s and Coca-Cola officials are excited at this opportunity to deliver another innovation first to consumers; it is the brands’ little way of saying thank you to their loyal consumers.

  • Mr. Bigg’s: Can buyout deal change UAC’s fortunes?

    Mr. Bigg’s: Can buyout deal change UAC’s fortunes?

    For event watchers, the buyout of Mr. Bigg’s by Famous Brands of South Africa, could signal a strategic change of direction for the UAC conglomerate, reports

    Come Tuesday, October 1st, to be precise, Mr. Bigg’s will come under a new management. The reason for this is not far to seek: Famous Brands of South Africa has since acquired a 49 per cent stake in UAC Restaurants Limited (UACR), a part of UAC of Nigeria PLC (UAC).

    The acquisition is expected to be funded out of cash reserves. This transaction falls below the threshold of a categorised transaction in terms of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited (“JSE”).

    UACR comprises 165 franchised restaurants across Nigeria, 57 of which are in Lagos and 14 in Abuja. 45% of the company’s franchised restaurants and 40% of its revenues are concentrated in Nigeria’s three key commercial centres. UACR also has a small logistics and manufacturing component.

    A done deal

    From feelers, the deal which is to be consummated later this Tuesday is already a fait accompli. While commenting on the deal, an upbeat Larry Ettah, UAC Group Managing Director and CEO, said: “We are delighted to partner with Famous Brands in this venture. This is a transformative transaction which ensures UACR has the necessary strategic partner to unlock the considerable value potential in the QSR landscape which Mr Bigg’s defined 25 years ago and in which it still maintains a leadership position. UACR will be availed of Famous Brands’ tested and highly successful brand stewardship to enhance and reinforce the Mr Bigg’s brand market power. This deal further reinforces UACN’s commitment to ensure we collaborate and leverage international partnerships to accelerate our strategic growth and progress.”

    “Nigeria is an attractive destination for QSRs and the country has seen an influx of international brands recently. Future consumer expenditure is underpinned by a range of key drivers, including higher monthly income levels resulting from GDP expansion, an increase in the minimum wage (from N7500 to N18000), and a shift in social class demographics, with the middle class (the business’s core target market) expected to increase to 35% of the population in 2015 compared to 30% in 2009. Significantly, this middle class comprises a large, young population with an average age of 18.”

    Ettah identifies that “Nigeria’s other investment incentives include an increasingly supportive business environment resulting from continued political and macro-economic stability coupled with growth positive policies and initiatives. In addition, the country continues to experience an improvement in efficiency, particularly in the distribution and manufacturing sectors. This is attracting positive interest from foreign investors with a long term view of the opportunities.”

    Echoing similar sentiments, Chief Executive, Famous Brands, Kevin Hedderwick, said the organisation was enormously excited about this transaction, which would boost the Group’s strategy to expand its presence in the broader African QSR market.

    “Famous Brands has operated in African countries north of South Africa’s borders for 15 years and we have a good grasp of doing business in those territories; prudent expansion in a select range of key markets in the region has always been part of our programme.

    He spoke of the benefits to be derived from the joint venture for both parties, pointing out that while UACR would be vending in a formidable brand (Mr Bigg’s), local expertise as well as a nationwide distribution network and Lagos-based manufacturing infrastructure, Famous Brands would add value to the business through its expertise in managing intellectual property, growing brands and optimising supply chain operations and efficiencies.

    “Historically, one of the key challenges of expanding into the rest of Africa has been to source suitable local partners. This acquisition surmounts that obstacle and enables us to not only acquire a substantial stake in an existing leading home-grown brand in Nigeria with opportunities to unlock value in that market, but also to export the format to other markets. We foresee our operations in the rest of Africa becoming increasingly significant to the Group over time,” Mr Hedderwick said,

    “Our immediate goal is to bed down this joint venture and optimise on the evident success of the existing operation and its enormous potential within the Nigerian market,” he added.

    “We believe this is particularly positive for UACN”, Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an investment bank, said of the development.

    RenCap said the transaction would bring UACN closer to the finish line of the transformational restructuring it has been pursuing in recent times.

    The making of Mr. Biggs

    Mr Bigg’s, a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) and a member of the UACN group, first opened its doors to Nigerians in August 1986 and subsequently switched to franchising its outlets to solvent Nigerians and individuals resident in Nigeria who wished to engage in its kind of business in 2003.

    The move raised doubts in some quarters as to the company’s ability to sustain the restaurant chain which had grown in leaps and bounds because this was happening at a time when the upsurge in competition had exposed Nigerians to a variety of other options amidst palpable scarce resources, the franchising move was interpreted as an end game of sort – a more dignified way of gradually doing away with that line of business.

    Following this strategic remodeling in business plan, the marketing industry became wary that Mr Bigg’s brand equity could be seriously compromised under the franchising arrangement since the franchisees were essentially money people and not brand managers per se. Mr. Bigg’s currently has 182 restaurants in Nigeria and five in Ghana.

    Justification for franchise model

    According to inside sources at Mr. Bigg’s, overhead cost was a subordinate consideration in relation to expansion capital.

    “After a while, our reading revealed that the brand could not take optimum advantage of the huge potentials and opportunities in the market place if it were to rely for organic growth on self-financing. It was also realised that recourse to bank funding was quite burdensome. This spurred our in-house strategists to invent franchising which is essentially an extension of the partnership model. Mr. Bigg’s franchising seeks to identify Nigerians and/or Nigerian residents who combine the ability to raise venture capital with some entrepreneurial instinct. It then converts them to stakeholders in the Mr. Bigg’s enterprise to the mutual advantage of both the brand and the franchise holder.”

    But just as the rest of the economy is assailed by the challenge of infrastructural limitation, it didn’t take long before cracks began to appear on the wall, chief among which was system collapse. “Malfunctioning generators and air-conditioners and other lapses crept in and the once popular brand known for its superb quality began to experience a reversal of fortunes. Besides, regular power crisis in the country began to take its toll on the business.”

    The sources were, however, quick to add that in line with UAC’s uncompromising commitment to customer satisfaction in all its businesses, Mr. Bigg’s did its level best to ensure that all its restaurants have power. “Hitches and glitches may occur from time to time in the functionality of electrical equipments in a massively power reliant business such as QSR.”

    A game changer

    The new deal by Famous Brands is already having a ripple effect in the QSR industry as majority of the competitors are raising the bar in service delivery.

    A visit to some of the eateries operating in parts of Lagos revealed that some of them are already wearing a facelift with fresh coat paints and other ensembles, geared towards providing their old and prospective customers a pleasurable experience.

    A customer at one of the eateries located at Agege axis of Lagos, while speaking with The Nation, said: “I want to believe that the coming of a new investor like Famous Brands into the Nigeria market is a step in the right direction. Take this place for instance, I know their services have been painfully sloppy but I believe since they heard what their competitors are doing a lot has also changed for the better here. So, I think it’s a good thing.”

    At the Ladipo-axis of Lagos, it was the same as some of the popular eateries in the neighbourhood were also wearing new look perhaps in readiness for the new bride in town.

    Divergent views on buyout

    In an interview with The Nation, Mr. ‘Dare Ogunyombo, Senior Media Manager, Brooks and Blakes, a media enterprise company, said it may be early to determine whether the buyout is positive or not.

    “Whether it is something to cheer about or not is not what I can deliberate on. It is the shareholders that can give a clear picture after it has become fully consummated,” he said noncommittally.

    He was, however, quick to add that: “From the public relations angle, it may be a good deal or strategy depending on what the new owners decide to bring to the table, brand-wise…It may be a leeway for the brand to come back on track because the Mr. Bigg’s brand was really struggling in the market.

    “The buyout may be a good or bad decision. That now calls to question what the new owners will do. Are they going to change the old logo or would they just help to strengthen the brand in terms of improving its reach, taste or is it just a question of building alliance with a similar brand with similar brand equity? These are some ofthe posers the new owners need to answer.”

    Mr. Adebiyi Tella, whose firm minds a top brand quick service restaurant company, has a different view.

    According to him, “Apart from being a competitor, I think from the point of view of investment, it is going to be of immense benefit to Nigeria and indeed Nigerians. Normally, if you have an investment, it is bound to increase productivity, capital share and money, as it were. The economy will be better for it because more money will be pumped into the system.”

    Speaking further, he said: “From past surveys Mr. Bigg’s is known to have the highest outlets and coverage nationwide. Mr. Bigg’s is known more for quantity than for quality. The buyout, I’m optimistic, will help the brand to grow along that line and maintain its reach across the country. I think they are going to give the rest of the competitors a run for their money because it is bound to create room for more variety of products, among others.

    “As a competitor, I think we will watch them closely and keep an eye on them and see how best we can also improve on our brand.”

    Can Mr. Bigg’s pull any surprises as been envisaged by stakeholders? Time will tell.

  • South African fast-food operator buys stake in Mr Bigg’s

    South African fast-food operator buys stake in Mr Bigg’s

    South African fast-food restaurant operator Famous Brands said on Monday it would buy 49 percent of the restaurant arm of UAC of Nigeria Plc to bolster its presence in the country.

    Famous Brands said the cash deal for an undisclosed amount gives it a wider footprint in Nigeria, where it has operated for the past 11 years through licence and franchise agreements, and is part of its strategy to expand further into Africa.

    Stuck with slower growth at home, South African companies are increasingly looking to fast-growing Sub-Saharan markets.

    UAC Restaurants has 165 franchised restaurants in Nigeria, with 57 of those in Lagos. That includes the popular Mr Bigg’s brand, Famous Brands said.

    Reuters reports that Famous Brands operates the Steers and Wimpy fast-food restaurants in South Africa.