By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
A SOUTHERN African  investment  company headquartered  in  Zambia  has  invested   a total of US$1.5 million in the establishment  of   a Pizza  Hut  fast -food store at Great East Park Mall in Lusaka this month.
Pizza  Hut  is  an  international  food  chain  store  that  has  its origins in the  United  States  of  America but  has  since inception,  expanded  its worldwide  reach  to numerous global centres.
According to the statement, the company has invested US$1.5 million in the fast food store to be opened before Christmas this year.
The statement states that Zambia’s burgeoning middle class has provided an opportunity for investment in the fast food sector.
It states  that plans  are  underway  to  open  up  six  more stores in  2015  and  up  to  45  more stores  by 2019 .
“Dagon Holdings has invested US$1.5million in  the  business  and  is providing  employment  opportunities  for  the  locals,  it’s  aim  is  to have  recruited  at  least  1,350  people  by  2019,” the statement said.
.Zambia  is  the  second  country  in  Africa  that  will  be  opening  a  Pizza  Hut  fast  food store.
Being  at  the  centre  of  economic  growth,  Zambia  is proud  to be  the  second country to have  a  Pizza Hut  store  in  Africa  and be  part  of  a  business  that  is  worth  US$12  billion,  with  15,000 sites across 93 countries globally.
Pizza  Hut was  founded  in  1958  by  two  brothers  in  the  USA, Pizza  Hut  is  one  of the   largest  pizza  fast  food  chains  in the  world  with  an  estimated  US$12 billion  worth.
It  has  recently  extended  its  investment  footprint  to  Africa with  the  first  store opened in South Africa.
After  Zambia,  the  portfolio  will  expand  to  include  Zimbabwe, Mozambique,  Tanzania  and  the  Democratic Republic of  Congo.