KENNY Rogers Roasters made a surprising return to Brunei this year after its short-lived presence over a decade ago.
The restaurant had its soft opening January 21 at the Giant Supermarket in Rimba and became the latest franchise to open up in the Sultanate following international franchises such as Singapore’s Fish & Co and Australia’s Gloria Jeans Coffee making their debut recently.
The restaurant had a brief stint in 2000 in Brunei, but is now making a comeback under its new management, Malaysia-based Berjaya Roasters Sdn. Bhd.
“We feel that the time is right for Kenny Rogers Roasters to make its presence here. I noticed that a lot of travelling Bruneians today dine in at Kenny Rogers Roasters while they were overseas, particularly in Miri as well as West Malaysia,” said Estee, the restaurant’s operations manager.
“The response have been very positive since we opened last month. We frequently experience full occupancy during lunch hours, especially on weekends, that people had to queue up for seats,” the manager said, adding that the restaurant can occupy up to 80 patrons.
From its signature rotisserie roasted chicken to its wide range of salads, the restaurant offers a healthy and convenient alternative to traditional fried chicken and other quick service restaurants that are springing up in the Sultanate.
Estee said that while there is a growing consumption of chicken in Brunei, there is also a growing awareness of making healthier lifestyle choices.
“We offer fresh non-fried chicken, marinated and cooked on a rotisserie,” she added.
According to Estee, Kenny Rogers Roasters has strong presence in Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia and the Philippines.
In April 2008, Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) wholly owned subsidiary of Roasters Asia Pacific and master franchise for Kenny Rogers Roasters fully acquired the chain’s parent, US-based Nathan’s Famous Inc.
Last year, Bernama reported that the operator of the Kenny Rogers Roasters chain of restaurants announced its plans to venture into Brunei and Bangladesh. Estee revealed that an official launch of the restaurant will be held next month. The Brunei Times
