Apart from the foreign meals dished by these outfits, some of them later spiced up their stable with African dishes in order to win more customers. Local meals such as ofada (local specie of rice), amala, pounded yam, porrigde, semovita etc were introduced at these eateries.
In spite of the promising nature, its fortunes began to dwindle. Many factors attest to this. Apart from the economic reasons, Nigerian Tribune learnt that youths now prefer the local joints that sell the famous ‘Fresh fish pepper soup’ to the fast food joints. Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that, although most of these pepper soup joints operate mostly in the evenings,they are still being preffered by people.
Funke, an undergra-duate in a higher institution in Ibadan stated: while expressing her views on her prefered choice.” To me, if not on some occasions that one will need to attend to a first- timer, I don’t patronise fast food joints, only kids will be carried away by the announcement of a date to a fast food joint. Moreso,the awareness about processed food has also discouraged me from going there, instead I will prefer pepper soup outings.”
Apart from Funke’s experience, another reason why patronage has reduced at the joints, it was learnt, began when their owners got involved in franchise system to operate some of the branches nationwide. Nigerian Tribune learnt that the franchise was a means of giving out the right of a particular branch to an independent owner while still maintaining the brand name. Under such agreement,the franchise owner will be in charge and will be preparing meals on the menu list of the parent company.
It was also gathered that, it was in realisation of the financial implication of sustaining many branches nationwide that made the operators to look in the direction of the franchise option.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the franchise style also means that the parent company will still retain its brand name but have another management at the local level in place.The brand owner then gives specification of its meals to the local managers who in turn prepare the delicacies according to these specifications. However, this did not last too long before customers began to notice the difference in taste.
The implication according to Nigerian Tribune investigation has been the speedy shift in choice by customers.
A visit to some eatery joints in Ibadan, Oyo State revealed that the patronage has reduced drastically. Most of the facilities installed at the initial stage to attract customers are either damaged to be found or have been left upgraded. Apart from some of the branches in choice locations-Mokola,Challenge,Ring road,Bodija and University of Ibadan(UI) centres, which the operators still believe attract huge patronage, most eatery centres do not have the flashy facilities they were known for.
One of the joints along Oke-Ado/Molete road Ibadan after several attempts, has been closed while others visited have had to give away some of their attractive facilities to sustainance. Example of such is one branch close to Challenge road, Ibadan which for some time has been unable to renew its satellite TV recharge, and has thus been relying on local television channels for some time.
Mrs Adedeji who is a manager in one of the eatery joints in Ibadan has this to say on the dwindling fortune of the once bubbling business.
“We’re not left out of the down turn in the economic situations in the country. Business generally in Nigeria has not been the same again in recent times. Even if you go to Alesinloye market, the market women who used to close around 5:00 p.m. now close late, thinking may be things would get better if they waited few hours more. And considering our own case, patronage has really dropped, even considering our location.”
On how the joints have been able to cope, Adedeji said only the headquarters are in a position to answer. ”Our overhead cost is far more that what we generate here. So, I don’t know how they manage to get the fund. We use an average of 200 litres of diesel daily because of the epileptic power situation.”
To survive the trend, the owners have been more vigilant to check illegal meetings without patronage because the queues are no longer there again. Another branch at the Mobil Bus Stop, along Ring Road Ibadan has been without air conditioning systems for more than five months now, apparently trying to reduce running cost.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that sales have dropped. But it was gathered that the management have been hiding under the guise that the air conditioning systems are faulty, a sign that business has not been as usual.
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