Police end first PETA protest in Cambodia

Activists of the animal rights group PETA sit in a cage as they stage a protest outside a KFC outlet against the restaurant's alleged mistreatment of chickens in Phnom-Penh. Police broke up PETA's first protest in Cambodia, saying the two activists who sat in a cage outside the KFC outlet had disturbed "public order" with their "strange" actions.

13 August 2012

AFP - Baffled police broke up animal rights group PETA's first protest in Cambodia Monday, saying activists who sat in a cage outside a KFC outlet had disturbed "public order" with their "strange" actions.

The two foreign campaigners from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the protest in the capital Phnom Penh was meant to raise awareness of the alleged cruel treatment of chickens by the fast food chain, which has 10 restaurants in the country.

Preap Borei, a deputy police chief of the capital's Daun Penh district, said the duo were asked to stop their protest because it "affected public order" and were briefly taken in for questioning before being let go.

PETA activists protest against KFC in Phnom Penh

(All Photo: Siv Channa, CEN)

4 KFC stores Phnom Penh annually ... can you digest it all?

QSR plans 4 KFC stores in Phnom Penh annually

Tuesday April 29, 2008
By YVONNE TAN
The Star Online (Malaysia)

PHNOM PENH: QSR Brands Bhd hopes to set up four Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets a year in Phnom Penh.

This is given the robust growth of the city's tourism industry, said chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim.

He said four outlets would be set up by year-end with a total investment of US$1mil.

“The immediate plan is to open three more here this year,” he said after the launch of Cambodia’s first KFC restaurant here yesterday.

Ali said the company would subsequently expand to other populous cities such as Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.

“Tourism here is growing rapidly. We hope to establish outlets to cater to the increasing number of foreign visitors,” he said.

He added that QSR obtained the franchise to operate KFC restaurants in Cambodia last year through its 46.79% associate company KFC Holdings (M) Bhd.

QSR is the operator of 489 KFC outlets in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Cambodia. It is also the franchisee for Pizza Hut.

The new outlet is operated by Kampuchea Food Corp Ltd, a joint-venture company set up by QSR; Cambodian investment and development company The Royal Group of Co Ltd of Cambodia; and Hong Kong-incorporated strategic investment holding firm Rightlink Corp Ltd.

QSR has a 55% stake in the joint-venture company while The Royal Group and Rightlink each has 35% and 10% interest.

On when the new outlet would break even, Ali said: “Hopefully, in a year but this is a long-term investment.'' Currently, overseas operations contribute 30% to QRS’ sales.

“We hope it will be much higher after this,” Ali said, adding that he expected Malaysian sales to also grow at double digit this year.

Despite rising prices of raw materials, Ali is confident of the group’s financial performance, going forward. “This year will be better than last year,” he added.

On a possible price increases in its products, he said: “Only if it is absolutely necessary but we will try to maintain prices for now.”

Meanwhile, the Cambodian government hopes Malaysia will continue to grow its investments in the country.

"China is currently Cambodia's biggest investor while Malaysia ranks ninth or 10th," Cambodia's Senior Minister of Commerce Dr Cham Prasidh said.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia's "wealthiest and most populous city," will taste "finger lickin'good chicken" by year end

QSR sees positive response to its KFC business in Cambodia

Sunday, December 2nd, 2007
Bernama

JOHOR BAHARU: QSR Brands Bhd chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim yesterday expressed confidence over the success of the group’s latest overseas venture - two Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in Phnom Penh, the wealthiest and most populous city in Cambodia.

Work on the new “finger lickin’ good chicken” outlets is in the final stages to meet the year-end opening target, he told newsmen at the launch of Chicky Carnival and Catur Bistari Board Game here.

He expects good response from Cambodians as the outlets will be the first ever fast food chain to enter the country.

Through its 45.9 percent equity stake in associate company KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd, QSR operates over 470 KFC restaurants in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

“Despite being a new market, we strongly believe in the prospect of this business,” he added.

Muhammad Ali said QSR will open two more outlets in Cambodia, in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, some time next year.

On the carnival launched yesterday, Muhammad Ali said it is expected to attract participation by more than 20,000 children. The two-day carnival is at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre.

“The carnival is KFC’s first outside Kuala Lumpur. We plan to organise similar carnivals in different cities each year,” he added.

Muhammad Ali Hashim, is also chief executive of Johor Corporation Bhd, said the Catur Bistari Board Games is part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme of both Johor Corp and KFC.

“This is a game based on business practices and we hope to nurture an entrepreneurship culture and interest among students who would chose this as a career in future,” he added.

PETA: KFC stands for Kentucky Fried Cruelty

Animal rights group threatens to protest Cambodia's KFC restaurants

Wed, 31 Oct 2007
DPA

Phnom Penh - An international animal rights group has urged Prime Minister Hun Sen to ban proposed Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlets from the country and threatened protests by celebrities if the fast-food chain opens, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) spokeswoman Ashley Fruno said by email that celebrities like actress Pamela Anderson and singer Morrissey were staunch supporters of PETA's campaign against KFC.

"We hope to use creative ways and colourful protests to educate Cambodians about KFC's horrific treatment of animals in the future," she wrote in an email Wednesday.

PETA has mounted a sustained campaign against KFC, dubbing it "Kentucky Fried Cruelty" for alleged infringements of animal rights. KFC would be Cambodia's first global food chain.

KFC plans to open outlets imminently in the major tourist centres of Sihanoukville, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in partnership with Malaysian-based QSR Brands Bhd, Rightlink Corp Ltd and Cambodian partner Royal Group Ltd.

"We hope you will act to protect Cambodia's health and culture by refusing to allow KFC and the abusive farming practices it perpetuates from entering your country," PETA Asia Pacific director Jason Baker wrote in an open letter to Hun Sen.

"With every KFC restaurant comes cruelty to animals, the threat of deadly diseases and blight on the urban landscape," Baker wrote in a separate press release. "We are asking Hun Sen to do his people, his country and his legacy - not to mention countless chickens - a big favour."

Under secretary of state for the Ministry of Culture, Ching Chhorng, said by telephone Wednesday that he doubted KFC would destroy Cambodian civilization. "Cambodians need jobs. Chains like KFC can provide them," he said.

PETA beats KFC to the punch in Cambodia, whether Hun Sen will listen to PETA or KFC is a different matter

Australian model Sarah Jane is appearing in an ad on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals urging consumers to boycott KFC. (Photo: PETA)

Animal-rights group asks Cambodian PM to bar KFC

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- An international animal-rights organization has urged Prime Minister Hun Sen to prevent the U.S.-based fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) from opening in Cambodia, claiming that it threatens Cambodian culture, people's health and leads to animal abuse, local media said Wednesday.

In a letter to Hun Sen dated Tuesday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said tourists do not come to Cambodia to eat at international fast-food chains, the Cambodia Daily newspaper said.

Such outlets "erode culture, as they make one country resemble every other country," PETA Asia-Pacific Director Jason Baker wrote in the letter.

The intensive farming required to supply KFC outlets would also increase the risks of food-born diseases caused by salmonella and E coli and the likelihood of a bird-flu epidemic, Baker wrote.

"We hope you will act to protect Cambodia's health and culture by refusing to allow KFC and the abusive farming practices it perpetuates from entering the country," he wrote.

Cambodian Information Minister and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith confirmed that the Ministry of Commerce had granted KFC authorization to operate in the country, the newspaper said.

KFC will open outlets in Cambodia's three major tourist centers: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap town and Sihanoukville, Khieu Kanharith said.

KFC in Phnom Penh, does it stand for Kampuchea Fried Chicken or Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Malaysia's QSR to open KFC outlets in Cambodia

Thursday August 30, 2007
The Star (Malaysia)

KUALA LUMPUR: QSR Brands Bhd is expanding its restaurant business under the KFC brand to Cambodia.

The first outlet is expected to be operational in Phnom Penh by year-end, said chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim during a press conference to announce the new venture Thursday.

The group plans to open four outlets initially in the capital as well as in major towns. This would be followed by two new restaurants every year.

The expansion to Cambodia involves setting up a joint venture company with two local partners, Royal Group of Companies Ltd and Rightlink Corp Ltd. QSR will hold 55% while Royal Group and Rightlink have 35% and 10% respectively.

QSR's initial investment is about US$3mil (RM10.5mil), which will be funded internally.

The group is hopeful that Cambodia would contribute profitably in the first year. "Everyone likes to eat chicken," Muhammad Ali said, adding that the country has a population of more than 14 million.

Presently, overseas operations, namely Singapore and Brunei, contribute about 15% of revenue.

If this latest venture proves to be successful, the group will consider expanding the Pizza Hut and Ayamas brands to Cambodia as well, Muhammad Ali said.

He noted that besides Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos also did not have the KFC presence.