Sebastian McKinlay, Big Square restaurant chain MD
Faith Kinel
Tell us a little bit about your career
I have been in Kenya for the past six years. Before then, I worked in London for 20 years where my job was in investing in private business – call it private equity investing. We put money in private enterprises, bought some of them and helped others grow.
We have partnered with others to invest in Big Square restaurant chain at the beginning of last year. Later in the year, I joined as managing director.
How is the business doing?
It’s great to mix with our customers and work with my team members. Yes, there are other branded chains of restaurants, but for us – we focus on providing people with a casual, relaxed space. We offer breakfast, lunch, hot beverages, cocktails and dinner. Or just a cup of tea.
Big Square is a well-kept secret. Not so many have heard of us, despite having 12 outlets. So, for us, we want to tell our story better. Opening more branches too brings Big Square closer to where our consumers live, work or hang out.
How have customers responded?
Some people think we are a burger or a fast-food joint. Actually, we are a casual dining chain of restaurants offering great value from 6.30am to 10.00pm and are getting famous for our ribs! We serve freshly cooked food to order and you are served at your table, not out of a box. We offer a diverse menu from breakfast onwards and we also sell alcohol.
Big Square is a foreign franchise?
Big Square is a Kenyan homegrown brand; designed for Kenyans, started in Nairobi and only operating in Kenya so far. All 550 employees are Kenyan except one- me! We recently signed a
delivery partnership with Jumia given the increasing importance of off-premises dining.
Our brand is partly about the food and partly about the experience you get when you dine at any of our outlets. We are upgrading packaging, so the food arrives in better condition and looks great. We also trying something new to be launched in a few months, but I won’t disclose what it’s all about; the power is in the secret.
What should consumers expect?
We are revising our menu— new items are coming up and we are improving our breakfast offers. We are running some great events at our Bellevue (Mombasa Road) and Moi Avenue outlets for our customers to get more involved with the brand.
Lastly, we are looking to open new outlets in Nairobi and the surrounding areas to make it easier for our fans to come and visit us when they are in the mood for the Big Flavour, Big Vibe!
