A1 Hyper Chicken Celebrates Over 30 Years of Serving the Community

Retail 2 June 2025

What began as a modest factory shop in Epping Industria in 1993 has grown into a thriving local brand, and now, A1 Hyper Chicken is celebrating a major milestone in its journey.

The business, originally opened by former County Fair employee Jeremy Owen as its first owner, has since grown into a trusted name in poultry retail, known for its affordability and community focus.

To mark the occasion, we spoke with Uth-maan Adams, the store brand manager at A1 Hyper Chicken Main branch, who shared his reflections on the brand’s early days, evolution, and current impact.

Humble Beginnings

“The very first branch opened in Epping, and back then, we had only about seven or eight people — directors, store manager, and staff combined,” Adams recalls. “Now, we’re sitting with three branches and roughly 80 to 100 staff members.”

Despite the company’s modest start, it quickly gained traction. “From day one, it was a growing business,” he says. “Even the second store, which was supposed to be small, eventually grew to become bigger than the first.”

The growth didn’t stop there. The success of the first two outlets led to the opening of a third store — with a fourth potentially on the horizon.

More Than Just Chicken

In addition to poultry, A1 Hyper Chicken has grown its product offering to meet the evolving needs of its customers. New additions include:

Rainbow Cream at R22 each
Baguette Rolls for R21 each
Puff Pastry at R18 each
Polony Bites for R20
Packs of Viennas for R51
Caramel Treat 360g for R36
Long Life Milk 6x1L for R89

A Milestone That Matters

This birthday celebration holds personal significance for Adams. “It’s the first big birthday that I’m celebrating as store manager,” he says. “For me, it’s a turning point in my career.”

Over the years, A1 Hyper Chicken has seen not just structural growth, but also a shift in its customer base and community role. “Initially, most of our customers came from low-income housing areas, buying either for home use or for resale,” Adams explains. “Eventually, we saw a rise in trade from house shops and spaza shops, which has now surpassed the earlier segment.”

More recently, however, there’s been a noticeable increase in direct household purchases. “Lately, we’re seeing more domestic customers — people buying for their homes — and that’s what’s really keeping the business going.”

Community, Competitions and Celebration

To thank its loyal customer base, A1 Hyper Chicken is running a birthday promotion through to Saturday, 7 June. Customers who spend R600 or more in-store can enter a competition with prizes including a microwave, air fryer, kettle fryer, and multiple hampers.

“Spending R600 here is easy — a box of chicken, a few extras, and you’re there,” says Adams. “We’ve got three main prizes, but we’ll be giving away up to seven in total.”

The competition is part of a broader birthday celebration, complete with in-store specials and discounts that kicked off the week before.