Development Partners International (DPI) has sold its 31% stake in Food Concepts, a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) operator in West Africa, to African Capital Alliance (ACA).

DPI will retain ownership of a majority stake in the Company.

Runa Alam, CEO of DPI, said: “Food Concepts demonstrates the tremendous growth the Nigerian mass market can offer for companies that are able to capture the opportunity. The company has grown sales at over 40% every year since 2015, has developed true Nigerian “super-brands”, and is just at the beginning of its growth.”

“We are excited to welcome ACA as partners and look forward to continuing our work with David and the Food Concepts team, as the business enters the next stage of its growth. Food Concepts faced some real challenges earlier in its history and we are very proud of our role supporting management in turning the business around and making it what it is today.”

ACA and DPI will work together to support Food Concepts on its next phase of growth and help drive the business’ regional expansion strategy.

Okey Enelamah, Chairman of ACA, said: “We are excited to be part of this African success story and to work alongside partners who share our vision to empower businesses in Africa. Food Concepts is an excellent business with strong foundations built by the existing management team and supported by DPI. The Company has demonstrated its ability to innovate and, in the process, has evolved into the leading QSR company in West Africa.”

“Our experience in the FMCG sector and understanding of the local consumers' preferences will play an instrumental role in delivering further value to the Company. Through our joint efforts with DPI and the management team, we are confident that the Company will achieve its planned growth and sustainability goals.”

Established in 2001, Food Concepts is focused on the mass market and operates three of Nigeria’s best known, most loved and fastest growing brands, Chicken Republic, PieXpress and Chop Box across 25 Nigerian states, as well as in Ghana, and an online delivery business growing at over 140% year on year.

With support from DPI, Food Concepts has grown rapidly from 58 stores in 2015 to over 180 stores today disrupting the Nigerian QSR sector with an affordable value proposition and demonstrating exceptional financial and operational performance across economic cycles.

Food Concepts maintains a strong commitment to operating responsibly as a business, focused on developing local talent, and driving diversity and inclusion across the company.

Since 2015, it has created around 3,300 jobs directly and many more in its supply chain, which is 99% localised.

Women comprise 51% of the workforce and 57% of the management team. The business was cited at the 2021 G7 summit as a leading success story in the development of women leaders.

David Butler, Managing Director at Food Concepts, said: "DPI has been there for us every step of the way as we have turned Food Concepts into a business Nigeria can be proud of, building our brands and tripling our store footprint since 2015.”

“We believe there is a significant runway for further growth thanks to our world-class corporate governance, a great African management team, and relentlessly taking care of our 4,200 people and 15 million customers every year.”

“I am excited to welcome ACA as a new strategic partner alongside DPI and look forward to benefiting from their shared operational expertise and industry knowledge in the next chapter of our growth."