🇿🇦How Debonairs Pizza started?🍕✔

Summary

Host David tells the origin story of Debonairs Pizza, founded in 1991 by Craig McKenzie and Andrew Harvey. Inspired by a Domino’s delivery during a Los Angeles trip, McKenzie and his partner began making pizzas in a garage and sold six on their first day. Rapid, unconventional growth followed—from garage to the rear of a bakery to a national chain—boosted by charismatic delivery drivers and bold marketing. Debonairs grew into Africa’s most popular pizza brand with 700+ outlets, pioneered online/mobile ordering and free delivery in South Africa, and was acquired by Famous Brands in 1999, now operating across many African countries and beyond.

Takeaways

• 😀 Debonairs Pizza was founded by Craig McKenzie and Andrew Harvey in 1991, with McKenzie serving as the CEO.
• 😀 The brand is the most popular pizza chain in Africa, with over 700 locations across the continent.
• 😀 The concept for Debonairs Pizza was inspired by McKenzie’s trip to Los Angeles, where he had a Domino's pizza delivered to his home.
• 😀 The idea of food delivery was groundbreaking in South Africa at the time, as home delivery was rare.
• 😀 Debonairs started in a garage in Pietermaritzburg after McKenzie and Harvey made pizzas after hours.
• 😀 The company’s early success was partly due to the appeal of young, attractive delivery drivers, some of whom became a draw for customers.
• 😀 Debonairs' first location was in Pietermaritzburg, and the company expanded rapidly from there, opening new stores every week.
• 😀 Famous Brands acquired Debonairs in 1999, though the amount paid for the company was never disclosed.
• 😀 Debonairs Pizza was the first African pizza chain to offer online and mobile ordering, setting a new standard for the industry.
• 😀 The brand also introduced free delivery in South Africa, which helped boost its popularity.
• 😀 Today, Debonairs has expanded to multiple countries across Africa and beyond, including Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, and even the UAE.

Q & A

Who founded Debonairs Pizza?

Debonairs Pizza was founded by Craig McKenzie, who also served as its CEO.

When was Debonairs Pizza founded?

Debonairs Pizza was founded in 1991.

How old was Craig McKenzie when he founded Debonairs Pizza?

Craig McKenzie was 23 years old when he founded Debonairs Pizza.

What was Debonairs Pizza's sales like on its first day of trading?

On its first day of trading, Debonairs Pizza sold just six pizzas.

What inspired Craig McKenzie to start Debonairs Pizza?

The idea for Debonairs Pizza came to Craig McKenzie during a trip to Los Angeles, where he experienced Domino's Pizza delivery and realized that food delivery was almost unheard of in South Africa at the time.

Where did Craig McKenzie and Andrew Harvey initially make pizzas for Debonairs Pizza?

They initially made pizzas in the garage of Craig's parents' house in Pietermaritzburg after hours.

How did Debonairs Pizza attract attention in the early days?

Debonairs Pizza gained attention by using young, lively, and attractive drivers, to the point where some customers would only order if a specific driver, dressed in a bow tie, delivered the pizza.

What was Debonairs Pizza's first physical location?

Debonairs Pizza's first location was in the back of a bakery in Pietermaritzburg.

Who bought Debonairs Pizza in 1999?

In 1999, Debonairs Pizza was bought by Famous Brands, a South African food company.

What notable innovations did Debonairs Pizza introduce to the South African market?

Debonairs Pizza was the first African pizza chain to offer online and mobile ordering, and also the first to offer free delivery across South Africa.

In which countries can you find Debonairs Pizza locations today?

Debonairs Pizza has locations in several countries, including Botswana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, and Zambia.