Steers, Wimpy, Debonairs booming in South Africa 

Famous Brands has reported strong results for its 2026 financial year, with its Leading Brands portfolio, which includes well-known names such as Steers, Wimpy, and Debonairs, crossing R1 billion in revenue.

In contrast, the company’s Signature Brands came under pressure over the year, including names like Vovo Telo, SALSA, Turn ‘n Tender, Mythos, PAUL, and LUPA Osteria.

Famous Brands released its results for the year through February 2026 on Monday, 18 May.

These results revealed a strong performance, marked by a 5.6% increase in revenue to R8.74 billion, and a 4.5% increase in operating profit to R955.08 million.

The group reported a profit of R653.53 million for the year, marking an 11.8% increase from the 2025 financial year.

Its basic earnings per share grew by 9.69% to 600 cents per share, while headline earnings per share increased by 12.12% to 583 cents.

This strong financial performance was driven by the company’s Supply Chain division, which grew revenue to R6.18 billion, up 7.21%.

In terms of its restaurant business, the company’s Leading Brands portfolio grew revenue by 5.95% to R1.03 billion. This segment’s operating profit increased by 4.95% to R541.85 million.

Its Signature Brands’ revenue was up 1.77% to R201.84 million, but deepened its operating loss to R10.59 million.

Looking forward, Famous Brands said it will be directing its investment towards delivery channels, smaller-format restaurants and drive-thrus to meet sustained demand for convenience.

“Our restaurant pipeline is healthy, with interest from both new and existing franchise partners,” it said.

The company also plans to expand its presence in the Southern African Development Community, the Rest of Africa, and the Middle East (AME), with a focus on selected priority markets.

Over the reporting year, Famous Brands restructured its AME management team to reduce costs, including bringing its Dubai operations back to South Africa.

“We are bullish on our prospects in Malaysia, following the opening of a combo Steers and Debonairs Pizza restaurant in December 2025,” the group said.

This opening was done in partnership with MESRA, a wholly owned subsidiary of PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad.

The group is also investing in its Supply Chain division, with an eye on improving efficiency and customer service to its franchise partners.

“Manufacturing facilities are being refurbished through a phased investment programme over the next two years,” Famous Brands said. 

“This includes investments in modern manufacturing technologies to improve yields, enhance product quality and reduce waste.” 

“We are also deepening our product development capabilities to create innovative products, improve taste and reduce costs.”

The 2026 financial year also marked the conclusion of Famous Brands’ multi-year programme to develop a fit-for-purpose logistics platform.

“Across the Supply Chain, the group is well-positioned to leverage its strengthened infrastructure to drive improved productivity and profitability while servicing a larger franchise network,” it said.

“We made a concerted effort to address areas of non-performance, and this should be evident in our 2027 results.”

On the back of these results, Famous Brands declared a final dividend of 220 cents per share, adding to the interim dividend of 162 cents it declared in August 2025.