Glovo, a food delivery platform, has entered into a strategic partnership with Chicken Republic, the largest Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brand in Nigeria.
As part of this collaboration, the Glovo application will become the primary platform for customers to order Chicken Republic meals online. The partnership will be effective in locations where Glovo operates.
In a statement shared by Glovo with Technext on Friday, it was stated that the main objective of the partnership is to enhance the online ordering experience for Chicken Republic’s customers, ensuring a more efficient service from order placement to delivery.
Currently, Glovo operates in Lagos, Abuja and Ibadan with 58 Chicken Republic stores across the designated cities. This collaboration is expected to increase customer access and convenience to Chicken Republic while also expanding Glovo’s own customer base. The partnership marks Glovo’s significant growth in the Nigerian market, positioning it as a market leader within just two years of operations in the country.
Although the statement did not mention the removal of other food delivery companies such as Jumia Foods and Bolt Foods from the Chicken Republic roaster, the move undoubtedly elevates Glovo’s responsibilities in handling the high demand generated by being the preferred delivery option for a major QSR brand like Chicken Republic. This development significantly impacts the competition in Nigeria’s food delivery space, which has been characterized by free delivery and discount incentives.
Kofi Abunu, the CEO of Food Concepts, the parent company of Chicken Republic, expressed his belief that the partnership with Glovo would boost their deliveries and positively impact their business.
Lamide Akinola, General Manager for Glovo Nigeria, added his two cents by highlighting the successful track record of the initial collaboration with Chicken Republic and expressed pride in being chosen by the leading QSR brand in Nigeria.
The partnership also extends to Ghana, and Glovo plans to roll out similar deals with Chicken Republic in other African markets. However, this partnership raises concerns about the challenges Glovo may face in becoming the top food delivery company in a country with significant structural hindrances. While Glovo can invest in more transportation options like motorcycles and bicycles, the traffic gridlock in Lagos and other cities poses a persistent challenge to timely deliveries.
Founded in 2014, Glovo entered the Nigerian market in 2021 and has since thoroughly pushed for expansion in the country. The Spanish company has about 50 employees in Nigeria and employs over 1,000 couriers nationwide.
CEO Oscar Pierre stated earlier this year that the company’s primary goal is to improve its service and grow customer base in a bid to become the top quick commerce platform in Nigeria. He added that the company has invested over $3 million in the Nigerian market.
