Son of a South African billionaire who bought a fast-food brand from his dad’s company and made it big
Adrian Basson is credited with turning Hungry Lion from a small fast-food operation within Shoprite to one of Africa’s larger fried-chicken chains, with more than 500 stores across nine countries.
Basson is the eldest son of James Wellwood “Whitey” Basson, the businessman who built Shoprite from a company worth about R1 million into Africa’s largest retailer.
Raised in the Western Cape, Adrian Basson attended D.F. Malan High School in 1990 and 1991 before moving to Paul Roos Gymnasium in 1992.
He matriculated in 1994 and went on to study accounting at Stellenbosch University, graduating with a B.Acc degree in 2000.
He joined the Shoprite Group in 2001 as general manager of Hungry Lion, taking responsibility for a business that was still a relatively small operation within the supermarket group.
Over the following years, Basson helped transform the brand into a standalone quick-service restaurant business.
By 2011, Shoprite reports described Hungry Lion as having “modern, well-designed stores with ample seating and an inescapable focus on fried chicken”. The chain began competing directly with established international fast-food brands.
Basson’s relationship with the business changed in the mid-2000s when he acquired an equity stake directly from Shoprite, at a time when his father was still the retailer’s chief executive and driving force.
Shoprite’s 2005 integrated report stated that “during the previous financial year, the Group sold 50% of its interest in Hungry Lion to a family member of Mr JW Basson”.
The transaction was initially valued at R24 million, but the final purchase price was reduced to R22 million due to delays in meeting certain conditions.
Shoprite subsequently operated Hungry Lion as a joint venture, with the group retaining a 50% interest while the remaining half was indirectly held by Adrian Basson.
The arrangement lasted for more than a decade. In January 2015, Basson moved from his position as Hungry Lion general manager to become Shoprite’s chief digital officer.
A massive success
The next major change came in 2018, when Shoprite exited the fast-food business altogether. On 1 July that year, the retailer disposed of its remaining interest in Hungry Lion Fast Foods, which operated in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.
Shoprite’s annual report recorded that “the 204 Hungry Lion outlets include 151 which were sold on 1 July 2018 when the Group disposed of its interest in Hungry Lion Fast Foods (Pty) Ltd”.
The sale formed part of Shoprite’s broader strategy to concentrate its resources on its core supermarket operations and exit businesses outside its main focus.
With full control of Hungry Lion, Basson continued expanding the chain across Africa. He described his business in simple terms, saying he “creates jobs in Africa by selling chickens.”
In 2024, Hungry Lion CEO Adrian Basson promised that his fast food empire would open 100 stores a year in Africa for the foreseeable future.
Basson was wrong. Hungry Lion would achieve a run-rate of 250 stores a year within the next two years and aim to cross 750 stores in 2026.
Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking CEO Bill Blackie recalled the prediction at the bank’s Africa Unlocked Conference.
“Two years ago at this conference, Adrian Basson from Hungry Lion spoke about his ambition of opening 100 stores a year in Africa,” he said.
“Today, that mission has turned into a new reality. Hungry Lion has opened more than 500 stores across nine countries, employing 10,000 people.”
He added that Hungry Lion planned to open 250 stores during the year, which would take the chain to 750 outlets.
“Our focus this year speaks to growth shaped in African enterprises with African capital and with African conviction,” Blackie said.
“That effort compounds across sectors, across borders, and across generations. The businesses in this room are evidence of that.”
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