Melcom Group of Companies, the diverse business conglomerate, has announced its entry into the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) business by acquiring the International Franchise Rights for Pizza Hut in Ghana.

A statement issued by the Melcom Group of Companies, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the franchise would be operated by the group company – Skyline International Limited.

"Pizza Hut is globally recognised as the largest Pizza Chain, with more than 18,000 restaurants in over 100 countries worldwide, and will soon be relaunched in Ghana," it stated.

It said Melcom Limited (Melcom) had a network of 50+ retail outlets and was continuing to grow at a rapid rate, adapting to meet the needs of its customers across the country.

It noted that it made it possible to bring shopping to the doorstep of Ghanaians nationwide, making Melcom "Where Ghana Shops".

The statement said, with the introduction of Pizza Hut, it aimed to be the preferred destination for families to have the "World's Best Pizza".

The Group's Board of Directors commended, "We are extremely excited and optimistic about our partnership with Pizza Hut in Ghana. This new area of business takes our vision of being a diversified group one step ahead and creates more employment opportunities alongside our expansion of the existing core retail business".

"We will announce the relaunch of the brand very soon and scale up considerably across the country in the next couple of years."

Mr Ewan Davenport, Managing Director of Pizza Hut Middle East, Turkey and Africa, said: "Pizza Hut International is proud to partner with the Melcom Group to re-open Pizza Hut in Ghana".

"We are excited at the prospect of our new partnership and have no doubt that we will grow and flourish. We look forward to many more years of proudly serving the best pizza in the world to the wonderful people of Ghana".

Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), has more restaurant locations in the world than any other pizza company.

Founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kan., Pizza Hut operates approximately 18,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries.

Melcom Group of Companies is a business conglomerate with diverse business interests in organised retail, modern trade, plastic manufacturing, electronics assembly and travel.

Its flagship brand, Melcom Limited, is the largest organised retail in West Africa with over 50+ retail stores nationwide.

Founded in 1989, it has been named one of the top business houses in West Africa for the last 32 years.