Restaurant chain Artcaffé Group is accelerating its nationwide expansion drive, with plans to open new outlets beyond Nairobi as part of what it describes as a major growth phase.
The expansion is expected to create about 700 jobs as the homegrown brand strengthens its footprint across Kenya’s key urban centres.
Artcaffé is majority-owned by US private equity firm Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), which acquired a controlling stake in the company in late 2018 in a deal estimated at Sh3.5 billion.
The expansion comes amid growing competition in Kenya’s hospitality industry, where restaurants and cafés are increasingly replacing traditional entertainment venues, particularly in Nairobi.
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Founded in 2008, Artcaffé has grown from a single outlet to a network of more than 60 restaurants and 10 food markets nationwide.
The company recently launched new branches in Kisumu and Voi and is preparing to open additional outlets in Kianda, South C and Ngong Town later this month.
Its next wave of expansion will include Thika Town, Tatu City, Loresho, Nakuru and Eldoret.
The strategy reflects shifting consumer preferences, with more Kenyans seeking venues that blend dining, work, social interaction and entertainment. In Nairobi especially, cafés and restaurants have increasingly evolved into social hubs, occupying spaces once dominated by conventional entertainment establishments.
