RESTAURANTS of Jamaica (ROJ) is spending almost $500 million to expand its KFC and Pizza Hut operations across the island with two new locations to open in March.

The company has announced that on the heels of a hugely successful opening of its KFC Morant Bay location, and with it expansion efforts moving full steam ahead, it is spending $285 million to open a KFC restaurant in Salem, St Ann.

In a media release on Thursday ROJ said this investment serves as a key pillar in its strategy of ongoing national investment, network expansion and job creation, not just within the Kingston Metropolitan Region but in rural communities as well — in this latest instance, bringing greater access to Jamaica’s number one quick service restaurant brand to the people of St Ann.

Once opened, the Salem eatery will become KFC Jamaica’s 44th restaurant islandwide. It will also become the third KFC location in St Ann to offer a drive-through, joining Ochi Rios Eight Rivers and Drax Hall.

Speaking on the new location, ROJ’s Managing Director Mark Myers explained that the KFC Salem location is a deliberate move to optimise its restaurant network in St Ann for an enhanced customer experience.

“With increasing commercial and residential development and improved accessibility in the area, demand for the KFC brand in the Ocho Rios, Drax Hall, Runaway Bay, and Discovery Bay regions have surged,” said Myers.

“With Salem bringing the total number of KFC restaurants in the parish to six, this restaurant is another symbol of our commitment to investing in Jamaica and in particular rural Jamaica. The Salem restaurant is also strategically positioned to provide greater choice and convenience for customers within the area. This will allow for greater operational efficiency while better serving customers travelling through St Ann and into neighbouring parishes,” added Myers.

He said central to the Salem expansion is the creation of 45 new jobs, with ROJ maintaining its commitment to recruiting team members directly from Salem and its surrounding communities, providing a direct economic boost to the area.

Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis welcomed the opening of KFC’s new location in Salem, describing it as an important milestone as KFC has long been a brand that Jamaicans genuinely love.

Noting that the investment brings jobs and added convenience for residents of St Ann Belnavis said “The St Ann Municipal Corporation is pleased to support opportunities that continue to build and help our communities grow.”

Myers has also announced that ROJ will be spending $180 million to open a Pizza Hut location in Cumberland, Portmore, by March.

He noted that the new Cumberland restaurant will be the 16th Pizza Hut location in Jamaica and the 11th outside of Kingston and St Andrew.

According to Myers, this latest investment reflects the brand’s commitment to modern, customer-focused dining experiences, bringing new jobs, enhanced convenience, and an upgraded Pizza Hut offering to residents of Portmore.

Once opened, the location will become Pizza Hut’s second restaurant in Portmore, complementing its existing Braeton outlet, and its third location St Catherine.

“At Pizza Hut Jamaica, we remain confident in the strength and potential of the Jamaican market,” said Myers.

“Our focus remains on growth, job creation, and delivering even greater taste, value, and convenience to our customers across the island,” added Myers.

He said beyond Portmore, additional Pizza Hut restaurant openings are planned in Kingston as well as in key growth areas outside the capital, forming part of a broader, multi-year expansion strategy.

“Our expansion strategy is about meeting customers where they are, in their communities and closer to their homes, schools, and workplaces,” said Myers.

“We are building a future-forward Pizza Hut in Jamaica, one that is more accessible, more digital, and more connected to the communities we serve, while continuing to deliver the world’s best tasting pizzas and, of course, ‘feeding good times’, which is our brand’s global mandate,” added Myers.

Mark Myers (fourth left standing), managing director of Restaurants of Jamaica, operators of KFC, with members of his team at the official opening of the restaurant chain’s location in Morant Bay, St Thomas, in January. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)