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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
INNSCOR fast foods division targets to create up to 100 additional jobs early next year as part of its $1,5 million expansion drive in the southern region.

Presently, the division employs about 3,000 workers at its Chicken Inn, Bakers Inn, Pizza Inn, Nandos, Fish Inn, Creamy Inn and Steers outlets dotted around the country.

Innscor southern region division manager Warren Meares said the expansion project scheduled to begin in January next year would start with the construction of a food complex in Gwanda.

The company would also open outlets in Masvingo, Chiredzi, Plumtree and Hwange.

“We’ll begin our expansion project in January next year starting with Gwanda where a food complex will be opened before expanding to Masvingo and other parts of the southern region such as Chiredzi, Plumtree and Hwange,” he told Business Chronicle recently.

“We intend to spend in excess of $1,5 million on the expansion project. Get in touch with me in January for more details.”

In the southern part of the country, the division employs about 1,000 workers.

Innscor has over the years continued to invest in Bulawayo despite the scaling-down of operations and shutting down of operations by some companies in the city owing to the prevailing economic challenges in the country.

The fast foods division this year opened outlets in Mvuma and Bulawayo along 8th Avenue.

Innscor operates about 200 fast foods outlets in the country.

The division’s parent company was recently reported to have changed its management team as the group prepares to review its business model to focus more on regional operations following a slow-down in the profitability of local operations.

It is hoped the group will re-evaluate its business model and follow an Africa strategy expected to contribute 50 percent to the holding firm between 2015-18.

Meanwhile, Innscor has settled a $3,1 million fine imposed by the Competition and Tariff Commission for unfair competition practices after it lost an appeal against the charges.

The Administrative Court threw out Innscor’s appeal in June this year after hearing preliminary points raised by the regulatory body.