Spur Corporation

Spur Corporation
TypePublic
JSE: SUR
ISINZAE000022653
IndustryRestaurant
Founded24 October 1967; 59 years ago (24 October 1967)
FounderAllen Ambor
HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
Number of locations
747 (2025)
Area served
Worldwide
14 countries (2025)
Key peopleMike Bosman
(Non-Executive Chairman)
Val Nichas (CEO)
ProductsFood
RevenueIncrease R3.86 billion (2025)
Increase R376 million (2025)
Increase R286 million (2025)
Total assetsIncrease R1.53 billion (2025)
Total equityIncrease R925 million (2025)
SubsidiariesSpur
Panarottis
RocoMamas
John Dory's
The Hussar Grill
Casa Bella
Doppio Zero
Doppio Bistrot
Piza é Vino
Modern Tailors
Websitespurcorporation.com

Spur Corporation Limited is a South African restaurant franchise owner. It operates a number of franchise chains, including Spur Steak Ranches, Casa Bella, Panarotti's‚ RocoMamas, The Hussar Grill, Doppio Zero, and Doppio Bistrot.

Founded in 1967, the company is headquartered in Cape Town. As of December 2025, it operates 747 locations across 10 distinct restaurant chains. The company has restaurants in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

History

The Spur Corporation has its roots in its namesake steakhouse restaurant chain, Spur. The first Spur restaurant, originally called Golden Spur, was established by Allen Ambor in 1967. Ambor is the son of German Jewish immigrants who had fled Nazi Germany. He worked as a waiter while studying for a BA degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), graduating in 1966, before establishing the first Golden Spur restaurant in 1967. After the second restaurant opened, the company became a franchise, as a means to expand.

In 1986, Spur was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with its founder serving as chairman.

The current Spur Steak Ranches logo

In December 1990, Spur Corp founded its second restaurant franchise, Panarottis - a pizza and pasta chain.

In 2004 the group bought a 60% shareholding in KwaZulu-Natal-based restaurant franchise John Dory's Fish and Grill, which had 54 outlets at the time.

In 2013, the company acquired The Hussar Grill, a steakhouse franchise that was founded in 1964.

In 2015, Spur Corp acquired a 51% shareholding in fast casual burger chain RocoMamas.

In 2019, the founder of Spur, Allen Ambor, retired after over 50 years with the company.

In 2021, the Spur steakhouse chain launched its first drive through. The following year, RocoMamas launched its first two drive throughs.

In March 2026, the company opened a new franchise, Doppio Bistrot, with the pilot restaurant located in Johannesburg. The chain is operated by Biscotti Trading, in which Spur Corp has a 60% shareholding.

Operations

As of December 2025, Spur Corp has operations in 14 countries in Africa, Asia, and Oceania, across the following restaurant chains:

Restaurant name Type of chain Number of locations Year of establishment Year of acquisition Ref.
Spur Steak Ranches Steakhouse 355 1967; 59 years ago In-house
Panarottis Italian 150 1990; 36 years ago In-house
RocoMamas American-style 117 2013; 13 years ago 2015; 11 years ago
John Dory's Fish and Grill Seafood 45 1996; 30 years ago 2004; 22 years ago
Doppio Zero Mediterranean 35 2002; 24 years ago 2023; 3 years ago
The Hussar Grill Steakhouse 28 1964; 62 years ago 2013; 13 years ago
Casa Bella Italian 7 2016; 10 years ago In-house
Piza ē Vino Italian 7 2009; 17 years ago 2023; 3 years ago
Modern Tailors Indian 2 2022; 4 years ago 2023; 3 years ago
Doppio Bistrot Mediterranean 1 2026; 0 years ago In-house
Total — 747 — — —

References

  1. 1 2 "2021 - Alumni with the writing edge - Wits University". www.wits.ac.za. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  2. ↑ Coordinator, Digital (1 February 2022). "Allen Ambor — A Taste for Life". Cape Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Minnaar, Kirsten. "The man who created Spur". Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Hedley, Nick (23 February 2018). "Spur founder to step down after half century". Business Day. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Ltd, Sharenet (Pty) (23 February 2018). "SUR - SPUR CORPORATION LIMITED - Retirement of Spur Founder and Executive Chairman - 23/02/2018". SHARENET - Your Key To Investing on The JSE Securities Exchange - South Africa. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Spur Corp = History". Spur Corp. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Malcolm Libera (20 August 2026). "Spur and RocoMamas owner launches new restaurant in South Africa – Photos". BusinessTech. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 31 December 2025" (PDF). Spur Corporation. 26 February 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 "History". Spur Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Sit-down Family Restaurants". Spur Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "John Dory's". John Dory's. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 "Speciality Dining". Spur Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Speciality Dining". Spur Corporation. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Our Story". Piza ē Vino. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Spur Corporation strengthens position in day-time speciality dining and enters coffee speciality market with acquisition of 60% of the Doppio Group". Spur Corporation. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Spur Corporation adjusted profit before Tax up 12.8% on strong revenue growth in a constrained consumer spending environment". Spur Corporation. 20 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.