One of the more overlooked ways into business ownership is buying into a franchise rather than starting from scratch, since the model comes with a proven system, brand recognition and structured support already in place. The harder question is which specific franchise is worth backing, and that answer looks different depending on whether you want an established brand with a long track record or a genuinely new opportunity before it becomes widely known.
The franchise sector in South Africa is a major contributor to the economy, having generated an estimated R90 billion in turnover in 2023, a 36% increase from 2019 and equivalent to at least 15% of GDP.
Here are three brands new to the South African market that are genuinely worth watching, rather than the same handful of established chains most franchise roundups repeat.
Franchise Brands New to South Africa
Pret A Manger
The British sandwich and coffee chain opened its first African store at Melrose Arch in February 2025, with a second location at The Zone in Rosebank following soon after. Millat Group holds the exclusive licence to operate Pret shops across Southern Africa and has stated an ambition to reach 30 stores by 2027. Franchising specifics for South Africa have not yet been publicly confirmed by Pret or Millat, so treat this as a brand to watch rather than an opportunity currently open for application.
Genesis BBQ Chicken
This Korean fast-food brand signed a master franchise agreement with Good Tree South Africa in 2025, with first restaurants planned for major cities including Cape Town, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. As a genuinely new entrant to the local fast-food category, expect further detail on franchisee requirements and costs to emerge as the first stores actually open.
Platō Coffee
Unlike the first two, Platō is a homegrown South African success story, not an overseas import. It grew from a single Gauteng container store into over 140 locations nationally after introducing a franchise model in 2022, and is now expanding internationally with a London store that opened in April 2026. The company reports receiving around 10 franchise applications a day, which says as much about current appetite for franchising in South Africa as it does about the brand itself.
These three sit at very different stages, an unconfirmed opportunity, a brand-new entrant, and an already-proven local franchise actively recruiting, which is itself the more useful lesson: a brand being newsworthy is not the same as a brand being ready to franchise into. Confirm actual franchise availability, costs and requirements directly with the franchisor before treating any “one to watch” as an opportunity you can apply to today.
For the established, high-volume franchise brands already operating at scale in South Africa, see our list of the country’s biggest franchise brands. For franchises that are 100% South African-owned specifically, see our guide to local South African franchises. And for how franchising actually works, from costs to financing, see our Guide to Franchising in South Africa.
To speak to someone who knows the industry, visit SME Advice to connect with one of our experts.
