The two men who started South Africa’s most popular pizza franchise

Craig McKenzie and Andrew Harvey went from university students to building one of the most iconic pizza brands in South Africa, Debonairs Pizza. 

McKenzie grew up on a dairy farm in Ixopo and attended Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. 

After completing his matric and army service, he took a gap year in the United States, which turned into a trip that would ultimately inspire the creation of a pizza empire. 

In the USA, McKenzie first encountered pizza chains offering home delivery, which didn’t yet exist in South Africa.

Despite being told the concept wouldn’t work due to the country’s security concerns and scepticism that “South Africans don’t eat pizza,” McKenzie saw a clear gap in the market.

On returning home, he enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Agricultural Economics at the then-University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal). 

In 1991, during his second year, he joined forces with Bachelor of Commerce student Andrew Harvey. With just R6,000 between them, the pair launched Debonairs Pizza in Pietermaritzburg.

They began operating out of McKenzie’s brother Cameron’s bakery in Parklane Spar after hours. They offered free delivery from the start, and their drivers wore tuxedos and bow ties, creating a memorable and professional brand image. 

The business quickly gained traction. New outlets followed in Umhlanga and Durban, and by 1996, Debonairs had grown so successfully that it was acquired by the Steers Group (now Famous Brands), with 135 outlets at the time.

In 1997, Debonairs opened its first international branch in Manzini, Eswatini—the same year it introduced vehicle deliveries.

By 1998, the brand had opened its 60th restaurant in Rivonia and was named SA Franchisor of the Year by the Franchisee Association of South Africa. 

The brand continued evolving, updating its tagline several times, most recently to “Try Something Different” in 2011.

Debonairs’ rapid growth was unprecedented in South Africa. At one point, it opened as many as one new store every week. 

From two regular students in KZN, McKenzie and Harvey built a powerhouse that transformed fast food in South Africa.

The largest pizza restaurant chain in South Africa

As of 2025, Debonairs Pizza continues to play a major role in the success of its parent company, Famous Brands, which also owns Steers and Wimpy. 

The group recently released its financial results for the year ending February 2025, showing a strong performance across its portfolio. 

Revenue climbed by 3.23% to R8.28 billion, with operating profit rising 12.57% to R913.97 million. 

Total profit for the year reached R584.56 million, an increase of 20.85%, while basic earnings per share grew nearly 20% to 547 cents.

Most of Famous Brands’ income came from its South African operations, contributing R7.63 billion. 

Its Leading Brands division, which includes Debonairs, was the primary profit driver, with operating profit up 7.5% to R516.28 million. 

Debonairs remains a standout performer, expanding by 27 restaurants in the past year. The franchise now boasts 868 outlets across 16 countries, and remains one of South Africa’s most successful pizza chains.

UKZN reported that McKenzie is still involved in the food industry decades after co-founding the brand in the early 1990s. 

He and his wife reportedly own several Debonairs outlets and restaurants under other Famous Brands banners, including Steers, Wimpy, Fishaways, Milky Lane, and Mugg & Bean. 

They run their businesses from their home on a sugar farm in Mid-Illovo, with additional offices in Durban and Gaborone.

McKenzie remains an advocate for aspiring entrepreneurs, often encouraging them to do thorough research and adapt existing models with a unique twist. 

“You don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “It’s about taking best practices from proven brands and adding a unique perspective.”

Since Debonairs, McKenzie has also been involved in various other ventures, such as the Equatorial Coffee Company and Corner Bakery. 

He is also involved in a Yamaha dealership in Botswana, property development, sugar farming, and the Biochem and Nu Eco brands.

There is no publicly available information on co-founder Andrew Harvey’s activities since the brand’s sale in the 1990s.

On the first night of trading in 1991, eight pizzas were delivered to customers. Today, 2.2 million transactions are conducted in South Africa and Africa, and 27.5 million pizzas are delivered per year.

History of Debonairs in photos