''KFC Stole My kota idea"

KFC has criticized an entrepreneur who accused them of stealing his idea for a chicken kota, stating that the kota is a well-known South African dish and not a secret. Romeo Malepe, from Sharpeville in the Vaal, voiced his frustration on social media, claiming that KFC had taken his concept, which he had presented to brand managing company Yum! four years ago.

KFC responded by saying that their limited-edition KFC Sphatlho, a version of the kota, was developed internally and inspired by South African cuisine. They emphasized their history of incorporating local flavors into their menu.

Malepe shared his story with Sowetan, explaining that he had come up with the idea for a Streetwise Kota and was looking for a partnership with KFC. He had noticed that KFC branches in other countries featured popular local food on their menus and wanted to create a kota concept with chicken for the South African market.

Malepe, along with a team of photographers and creatives, developed the concept, including merchandise such as sneakers and T-shirts. They approached Yum! in Bryanston, hoping to present their idea to higher-level executives. However, they only met with the brand manager who showed little interest in matter.

In response, Malepe started a Facebook page for Streetwise Kota, which gained significant attention and sparked demand for the product at KFC outlets. Unfortunately, he received a legal notice instructing him to remove the page and delete the pictures. Malepe, who had already been selling the Streetwise Kota at kota festivals, had to change the name to Kota Culture after receiving the letter.

Expressing his disappointment, Malepe stated that he knew there was no chance of forming a partnership with KFC after receiving the legal notice. He simply wanted them to acknowledge that he came up with the idea and, since they were already using it, to officially purchase it. However, he acknowledged that taking on a large corporation like KFC would be challenging due to their size and resources.

Written by
Malatjie Funky Remember Multimedia Journalist.

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