"We Consider KFC Our Competitor, And Not Chicken Slice"
Simbisa Brands managing director Warren Meares has said they do not consider Chicken Slice as a competitor.
This came after Chicken Slice founder and chief executive officer Tawanda Mutyebere on Thursday accused Simbisa Brands-owned Chicken Inn of bullying.
Chicken Inn’s application at the High Court in 2019 seeking an interdict against Chicken Slice using what it termed its trademarks was dismissed by High Court judge Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba last month.
Mutyebere told NewsDay on Thursday that Chicken Inn had wasted his company’s resources fighting “unnecessary” legal battles.
Responding to Mutyebere’s remarks that Chicken Inn used “tricks of a bully”, Meares said they do not even consider Chicken Slice a competitor but a “copycat”. He said:
We have got no qualms or animosity with Mr Mutyebere in any way. If anything, concerning Mr Mutyebere — and you are someone on the street, wherever we go, he follows.
We went to Braeside, he followed, we went to Walk Tall West End, he followed, Kadoma he followed, we went to Gweru and he followed, and we were in Bulawayo he followed.
When I see him, I stop and have a chat. I don’t have any qualms with him. If anything, I love the fact that he can become successful, and competition is good.
I see KFC (an American global chicken fast-food store, with outlets in Zimbabwe) more as competition than Chicken Slice.
KFC is an international brand. It is a big name, it is a strong name, which is real competition.
Chicken Slice is our little brother who is copying us.
| NewsDay
