Steers
Encyclopedia
Steers is a fast-food, quick service restaurant
franchise
originating from South Africa
. Its core products include the sale of a range of flame-grilled beef
and chicken
hamburgers, served with soft drinks and french fries
.
Steers was founded in the 1960s by George Halamandres (of Greek descent). Following a visit to the United States of America in the 1950s, Halamandres (actually spelt Halamandaris, a mistake made at the immigration office) returned to South Africa to introduce the concept and opened the first Steers steakhouse restaurant in Bellevue, near Johannesburg
. The restaurant and concept attracted much attention and was a success. Halamandres was joined by his son John and his nephews, the Halamandaris brothers, Peter (Panayiotis), Theofanis, Perry (Periklis) and Babis (Charalambos) in the 1970s. The success of the Bellevue restaurant soon lead to additional restaurants being opened and the concept of franchising was introduced to the South African market. During the very early stages of expansion, a Steers restaurant was opened in the Sandton City
shopping mall in Johannesburg, and became the platform for the franchise concept. The franchise expanded rapidly in South Africa and become one of South Africa's most well-known fast-food chain restaurants.
In March 1994, the company listed under the name Steers Holdings Limited on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in South Africa. At this time the company had 162 Steers restaurants. On 1 January 1995 the company's share price closed at ZAR
0.925. Currently there are 520 outlets spread across the African continent and the share price is over R30.00.
Steers Holdings Limited was later renamed Famous Brands Limited
. To this day, John, Peter, Theofanis and Perry are still on the board of directors of Famous Brands Limited.
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
originating from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Its core products include the sale of a range of flame-grilled beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
and chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
hamburgers, served with soft drinks and french fries
French fries
French fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are...
.
Steers was founded in the 1960s by George Halamandres (of Greek descent). Following a visit to the United States of America in the 1950s, Halamandres (actually spelt Halamandaris, a mistake made at the immigration office) returned to South Africa to introduce the concept and opened the first Steers steakhouse restaurant in Bellevue, near Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. The restaurant and concept attracted much attention and was a success. Halamandres was joined by his son John and his nephews, the Halamandaris brothers, Peter (Panayiotis), Theofanis, Perry (Periklis) and Babis (Charalambos) in the 1970s. The success of the Bellevue restaurant soon lead to additional restaurants being opened and the concept of franchising was introduced to the South African market. During the very early stages of expansion, a Steers restaurant was opened in the Sandton City
Sandton City
Sandton City is a shopping centre located in Sandton, Johannesburg that was built as pioneer centre in 1973.-Redevelopment:Liberty Properties announced in 2008 that Sandton City would receive a R1.77 billion upgrade...
shopping mall in Johannesburg, and became the platform for the franchise concept. The franchise expanded rapidly in South Africa and become one of South Africa's most well-known fast-food chain restaurants.
In March 1994, the company listed under the name Steers Holdings Limited on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in South Africa. At this time the company had 162 Steers restaurants. On 1 January 1995 the company's share price closed at ZAR
South African rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
0.925. Currently there are 520 outlets spread across the African continent and the share price is over R30.00.
Steers Holdings Limited was later renamed Famous Brands Limited
Famous Brands Limited
Famous Brands Limited is a public company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in South Africa. Its head offices are in Midrand, Johannesburg. The company is Africa's leading quick service and casual dining restaurant franchisor...
. To this day, John, Peter, Theofanis and Perry are still on the board of directors of Famous Brands Limited.
Slogans
- Real Food Made Real Good
- Flame Grilled, It Just Tastes Better
- It's That Good (Present)