A car eases into the lane, the driver reaches for the window and a barista, smiling, calls out an order. For busy commuters in Lusaka, that scene just became real. vida e caffè has opened Sub-Saharan Africa’s first coffee drive-thru outside South Africa, bringing its signature espresso, fresh food and fast service to Zambia in partnership with master franchisee Fortune Retail Holding. It is a small moment for a customer on the way to work and a big one for a brand that plans to grow fast across the continent and beyond.
Convenience meets craft coffee
This drive-thru is more than a window with a speaker. It is a deliberate move to meet modern life where it happens. People want quality coffee without the wait. They want breakfast on their commute and a reliable place to grab a meeting fuel. vida e caffè’s model merges hand crafted drinks with an efficient flow that keeps cars moving and customers smiling. That balance of speed and taste is central to why the company sees strong potential in urban centres across Africa and the Middle East.
Frank van Asperen, vida e caffè’s GM International, framed the Lusaka launch as the next step in a clear strategy. He said the brand is benefitting from strong coffee shop growth potential, its leading position, and an innovative spirit that will expand the footprint from seven markets into many more international markets. The drive-thru in Lusaka is one visible example of that ambition.
Local partnership, global brand
Fortune Retail Holding’s role as master franchisee is crucial. Local partners understand market rhythms, consumer preferences and logistical realities in ways that launching brands without a local anchor often miss. Working with Fortune lets vida e caffè bring consistent standards and international processes while adapting menu items, service hours and promotions to suit Zambian customers.
This hybrid approach helps the brand scale quickly but sensibly. The company has set a bold target of 500 outlets worldwide by 2028. Achieving that goal will require both the replicable systems vida e caffè is known for and strong local partners who can translate those systems into real daily operations.
Sustainability woven into growth
The Lusaka opening comes as vida e caffè doubles down on sustainable packaging. The company recently redesigned its still and sparkling water bottles and introduced a range of flavoured waters with fully recyclable wraparound labels. Previously bottles were screen printed, which made them non recyclable. The new labels can be removed easily, keeping PET bottles valuable for waste collectors and recyclers.
Michelle Penlington, Petco director and executive at Polyoak Packaging, highlighted how the redesign helps retain maximum value from used PET bottles for waste collectors and recyclers. As a founding member of Petco and the SA Plastics Pact, Polyoak Packaging is working to ensure PET packaging remains a valuable resource that supports jobs, recycling businesses and cleaner environments.
Sustainability is not a one off for vida e caffè. It is being integrated into product design and supplier choices so that expansion across Africa and the Middle East can carry a lighter footprint and support circular economy goals.
A wider strategy: retail, partnerships and product innovation
Lusaka’s drive-thru also sits alongside other expansion moves. Earlier this year vida e caffè partnered with SPAR to introduce full service coffee and beverage stations in select SPAR and KWIKSPAR locations, extending the brand into grocery retail and convenience formats. These partnerships create multiple access points for customers whether they want a quick cup while driving, a sit down in a cafe, or a grab at the supermarket.
Product innovation matters too. New beverage lines, seasonal flavours and food pairings keep menus fresh and give customers reasons to return. Combined with operational efficiencies like drive-thru lanes and streamlined service, the brand is building a multi channel presence that can scale.
Why Lusaka matters
Lusaka is a sensible first stop outside South Africa for a Sub-Saharan drive-thru. The city is growing, urban lifestyles are changing, and there is a rising demand for branded food and beverage options that combine convenience with consistent quality. For customers, the drive-thru is a new way to fold a good coffee into busy days. For the local economy, it creates jobs in service, logistics and supply chains.
For vida e caffè, the Lusaka drive-thru is proof of concept. If the format catches on with customers and franchise partners, it becomes a template for rollouts in other cities where traffic, commuting habits and urban density favour drive-thru convenience.
What this means for customers and partners
- Faster access to signature espresso and food items for drivers and riders.
- Expanded job opportunities at local outlets, plus support roles in supply and distribution.
- Wider brand access through SPAR partnerships and new product lines.
- A small but meaningful step toward more recyclable, circular packaging.
A drive-thru might seem like a simple convenience. In a market that is urbanising fast and where time is a growing currency, it is also a strategic move. vida e caffè’s Lusaka outlet is both an invitation and a test. It invites Zambians to make the brand part of their day and it tests a format that the company hopes to scale across Sub-Saharan Africa. If customers embrace it, the Lusaka drive-thru will be remembered as the moment vida e caffè turned a single window into a continent wide conversation about coffee, convenience and responsible growth.
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