Fast-food chain coming to BP petrol stations in South Africa

South African chicken restaurant chain Tasty Gallos plans to open outlets at BP petrol stations, as fuel retailers look to increase revenue from food and convenience sales.

The partnership will allow participating BP dealers to add a quick-service restaurant to their forecourts and create an additional revenue stream beyond fuel sales.

Tasty Gallos is targeting the second quarter of 2027 for its first BP restaurant, subject to agreements with participating dealers.

These expansion plans come as fuel retailers face pressure from tighter margins and declining fuel volumes.

Although higher fuel prices have increased what motorists pay at the pump, this does not necessarily translate into higher profits for station operators.

As a result, fuel retailers are increasingly looking at food and convenience retail to make better use of their existing customer traffic.

Motorists are also becoming more selective about where they stop as fuel prices rise. Combining refuelling with a meal or shopping trip can make a particular forecourt more attractive.

Tasty Gallos founder and CEO Muhammed Gutta said the restaurant partnership gives dealers an opportunity to generate income from customers who might otherwise pass the station without stopping.

“A customer may pass the same station every day without needing to fill up. A restaurant gives the dealer a chance to bring that customer onto the site between fuel purchases and build more regular trade.”

Research published by the Fuel Retailers’ Association in June 2026 found that fuel volumes had declined by 6.3% over the previous year, while fuel sales fell by 4.2% in 2024.

Historically, 90% of a fuel station’s income came from fuel sales. The association expects this share could fall to as little as 20% as forecourts develop other revenue streams.

The research also found that 68% of consumers buy fast food when visiting fuel stations. A further 75% said they expected to maintain or increase their visits.

These trends have made restaurants an increasingly important part of fuel retailers’ efforts to diversify their businesses.

Tasty Gallos partners with BP

Tasty Gallos is engaging with BP dealers and fuel station operators to identify suitable sites and franchise partners across South Africa.

Gutta said the business wants dealers who will take an active role in running the restaurants rather than treating them as an additional facility at the forecourt.

“We’re looking for operators who see the restaurant as a business worth building and are prepared to take an active role in its success.”

“Our name goes above the door, so we care deeply about who’s running it. The dealer also has to want the restaurant to succeed just as much as we do, because they’re the one driving business on the ground.”

The first outlet is expected to open in the second quarter of 2027, although the timing depends on agreements with participating dealers.

Tasty Gallos already operates in major shopping centres, including Eastgate, Greenstone, The Glen and Mthatha Plaza in the Eastern Cape.

The company has also opened an outlet at the University of the Witwatersrand and has further expansion plans underway.

The BP partnership would give the brand access to fuel station locations, where it could reach customers outside traditional shopping centre environments.

Tasty Gallos specialises in flame-grilled and fried chicken, with sauces and spices developed for its menu.

Gutta said that since chicken is already a familiar part of how South Africans eat on the go, Tasty Gallos’s offering translates naturally into a forecourt environment.

“Our flame-grilled and fried chicken gets its bold flavour from our unique blend of sauces and spices, developed to make every bite unmistakably Tasty.”

“In a forecourt setting, that gives customers a compelling reason to stop, spend more time on the site, and potentially spend across the broader convenience offering.”

Customers visiting a restaurant may also buy drinks, snacks and other essentials from the adjoining convenience store.

“For example, a customer stopping for a meal may add drinks, snacks, or other essentials from the adjoining shop,” he explained.

“Meeting more of those needs under one roof creates more opportunities to earn from each customer visit.”