Manny Nichas appointed to grow Fournews’ global brand footprint

Following 22 years of creating and overseeing South Africa’s favourite franchise brands, Fournews, has announced the appointment of Manny Nichas as Executive Manager – Brand Growth and New Business, effective immediately. Nichas will expand the brand growth into the global market while ensuring that their local brands, News Café, Moyo, Brooklyn Brothers, Calistos and Senhor Calistos, remain competitive as well as profitable.

“Fournews has enjoyed remarkable success in South Africa, and within the rest of the African continent, and to remain market leaders we must be willing to evolve without losing the essence of our brands,” says Michael Deftereos at Fournews. “We live in a global village and while we are known to have brought the best of the
world to local consumers, now is the right time to export the best of South African hospitality for the world to experience, and we couldn’t have found a better candidate then Manny Nichas.”

Nichas is an industry game-changer and is well poised to charge this role, having served as Group CEO of Fats Lazarides where he spearheaded the rapid expansion of the Group both in South Africa, and internationally in 12 other countries. Under his leadership, Ocean Basket assumed a leadership position among the seafood restaurant brands in South Africa with 60% market share of the sit-down seafood market, serving more than one million meals each month. Most recently, Nichas served as CEO of Franchising to Africa at JSE AltX listed Gold Brands.

Nichas also boasts a Diploma in Financial Management, a Diploma in Bookkeeping, a Higher Diploma in Franchise Management and a Diploma in Personal Training. When he is not busy making waves in the world of franchising he enjoys physical and fitness training as well as collecting fine whiskeys.

I look forward to taking advantage of the foundation laid by Fournews’ history to gain an in-depth understanding of its brands, market, patrons and how they are intertwined and evolving. This coupled with developing as well as using established solid partnerships, including suppliers and franchisees, with an intrinsic knowledge of the local markets and supply chain, will set us a cut above our competitors.”

The Fournews group is a private company which operates on a franchise and company-owned model. Its strategy is to acquire South African brands, alongside prominent international brands. Established in South Africa in 1995, the Group boasts 76 stores across the country and the rest of Africa. Brands include News Cafe, moyo, Brooklyn Brothers and Krispy Kreme.