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Famous Brands CEO says casual dining struggles in tough first half

Published

Famous Brands chief executive Darren Hele says casual dining came under pressure in the company's first half, while quick service restaurants held up. He spoke on a business podcast hosted by Bruce Whitfield.

The podcast description says the economy is not growing and Famous Brands is fighting for every customer. It also says fuel costs threaten food inflation and interest rates are heading higher.

The episode covers other business topics too. These include the medium-term budget and the Reserve Bank's plan for ATMs.

Magda Wierzycka is in a standoff with Sygnia shareholders over a R600 million share incentive scheme. Franz Struwig of HisWay Labs said a railway sensor is priceless to an operator, though it is worth R6 to a thief.

Jean Pierre Verster of Protea Capital Management said Chinese cars are putting pressure on second-hand vehicle prices.

Key facts

Who
Bruce Whitfield (host of Bruce Whitfield's Business Week podcast); Darren Hele (CEO of Famous Brands); Franz Struwig (of HisWay Labs); Helena Wasserman
When
22 October 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

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