Rubis Energy Ja adds fried‑chicken franchise

RUBiS Energy Jamaica has added the Southern Fried Chicken (SFC) franchise to its newest and largest service station as the company moves further into the full-service retail market.

The quick-service restaurant is the centrepiece of RUBiS’s 50th station, newly opened on the Portmore Causeway, and marks SFC’s debut in Jamaica and the English-speaking Caribbean.

The milestone station, developed under a long-term agreement with TransJamaican Highway, is powered by solar energy through RUBiS’s joint venture with Soleco Energy, in line with the company’s push to “solarise” its network.

Meanwhile, the new SFC outlet, operated by franchisees Damion Facey and Venice Anderson, features a drive-through and dine-in UltraShop. RUBiS expects to open further SFC locations across the island.

Jean-Christian Bergeron, CEO of RUBiS Énergie and managing partner of the RUBiS SCA Group, noted Jamaica’s importance to the firm’s Caribbean operations, which span 17 territories. His visit, he said, reflects the group’s confidence in the market. Mauricio Nicholls, who oversaw RUBiS’s 2012 entry into Jamaica following its acquisition of Shell West Indies’ assets, said the network’s growth to 50 stations followed significant investment in upgrades, new forecourt technology, and the expansion of its UltraShop chain.

For his part, Michel Malatino, CEO of RUBiS Energy Jamaica, called the Portmore station “strategic”, serving more than 200,000 residents and some 38,000 vehicles crossing the causeway daily. The location has generated about 60 jobs, contributing to the roughly 1,200 Jamaicans employed across the network.