Wimpy Specials: A Fast Food Brand With an American Name and a South African Home
Quick answer: Wimpy is a burger and grill chain that began in the United States in 1934, became a UK high-street name and has been a South African staple since the first restaurant opened in Durban in 1967. Famous Brands owns the South African chain, which had about 451 restaurants in February 2025. Specials vary by restaurant, so check the Wimpy app, website and your local branch.
' 'Last updated: October 2026. Facts come from Wikipedia (Wimpy and Famous Brands) and BusinessTech reporting. We do not quote current prices.
' 'Where Wimpy comes from
'Wimpy was founded in 1934 by Edward Gold in Bloomington, Indiana, as Wimpy Grills, named after J. Wellington Wimpy, a character in the Popeye cartoons. The US chain faded, but Gold licensed the name to J. Lyons and Co. in 1954 and the first UK Wimpy Bar opened in London. At its peak the international network reached about 1,500 locations in 1978. The first South African Wimpy opened in Durban in 1967. Famous Brands, then Steers Holdings, acquired the South African chain in 2003 through the purchase of Pleasure Foods and later took a majority stake in the wider Wimpy business in 2007.
' '| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1934 | Wimpy Grills founded in Bloomington, Indiana |
| 1954 | Name licensed to J. Lyons and Co. in the UK |
| 1967 | First South African Wimpy opens in Durban |
| 1978 | International network peaks at about 1,500 locations |
| 2003 | Famous Brands acquires the SA chain via Pleasure Foods |
| 2007 | Famous Brands takes a majority stake in Wimpy |
| 2025 | 451 SA restaurants (February 2025) |
Wimpy's place in the Famous Brands family
'Famous Brands lists around 3,000 restaurants and about 20 brands. Mid-2025 outlet counts by brand were Debonairs 868, Steers 735, Wimpy 539, Mugg & Bean 322, Fishaways 242 and Milky Lane 132. Wimpy's total includes outlets outside South Africa, in markets such as Namibia, the UK, Kuwait, Egypt, Lesotho, the UAE and Botswana. BusinessTech has reported store closures at Wimpy and some other Famous Brands chains over the same period, so check that your nearest restaurant is still trading.
What Wimpy serves
'The menu centres on hamburgers, chicken and chips, and the brand is widely associated with all-day breakfasts in South Africa. Wikipedia also notes that Wimpy-branded coffee beans are sold in Pick n Pay stores. Breakfast menus and prices differ by restaurant, so we do not quote them here.
' 'How to find Wimpy specials
'- '
- Check the Wimpy website or app for current offers. '
- Read the menu board or ask staff about combos. '
- Look for breakfast and lunch offers, which often have time windows. '
- Compare delivery app prices with in-store prices. '
We could not verify a fixed national weekday special. Franchise owners can set local offers.
' 'Wimpy compared with similar chains
'| Chain | Group | Public figure | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wimpy | Famous Brands | 539 outlets (mid-2025, all markets) | Sit-down breakfast and burgers |
| Steers | Famous Brands | 735 outlets | Flame-grilled burgers |
| McDonald's | Global franchise | 300+ SA restaurants | Fast service and app rewards |
| Spur | Spur Corporation | 355 locations (Dec 2025) | Family steakhouse with kids' areas |
Getting value from a Wimpy meal
'- '
- Choose a breakfast or lunch combo instead of ordering items separately. '
- Share a side platter at the table. '
- Ask whether refills on tea or coffee are included. '
- Check whether children's meals come with a drink. '
Cost per person example
'The numbers are invented for the method.
'| Meal | Total | People | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two breakfasts and two hot drinks | R240 | 2 | R120 |
| One large breakfast shared plus extra toast | R150 | 2 | R75 |
Pros and cons
'Pros
'- '
- A long-standing brand with a large South African network. '
- All-day breakfast culture. '
- Family-friendly setting at many restaurants. '
Cons
'- '
- Some restaurants have closed. '
- Specials differ by owner. '
- Delivery prices can be higher. '
Frequently asked questions
'Is Wimpy South African?
'It started in the US but is a South African staple, owned locally by Famous Brands.
'When did Wimpy open in South Africa?
'1967 in Durban.
'How many Wimpy restaurants are in South Africa?
'451 as of February 2025 per Wikipedia.
'Does Wimpy have a weekly special?
'We could not verify one nationally.
' 'Wimpy Rewards app and eBucks: what the 2025 and 2026 sources add
'Wimpy's own site describes its Rewards app as a way to order ahead, pay with cashback rewards, send vouchers and find a nearby outlet. A sponsored article on the Wimpy site says members earn cashback on every meal, can use coins to settle the bill, and get a free dessert on their birthday. Through the eBucks partnership, qualifying customers can receive a breakfast or burger voucher every three months, depending on their bank tier. These are the company's and partners' descriptions, so read the current terms in the app.
'| Source | Breakfast prices quoted | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Undated aggregator | Mzansi Brekkie R54.90, Classic Brekkie R59.90, Mega Breakfast R114.90 | Undated |
| Guide labelled "updated for 2024" | Mzansi Brekkie R44.90, Mega Breakfast R99.90 | Older, lower prices |
| Mall of Africa outlet page | Double Up Breakfast special, price not stated | Location-specific |
| Mount Frere outlet page | Triple Wings and Wors at R99, valid until 6 July 2026 | Expired and location-specific |
The gap between the two lists, about R10 on the Mzansi Brekkie, shows how prices drift over time. Check the menu at your outlet.
' 'Sources
'- '
- Wikipedia: Wimpy (restaurant) '
- Wikipedia: Famous Brands '
- BusinessTech: Famous Brands outlet and closure coverage '
- Wimpy: ways to make breakfast better with the Wimpy Rewards app (2025) '
- Wimpy outlet location pages (Mall of Africa, Mount Frere) '
- eBucks: Wimpy partner page '
Official website: Pick n Pay · Wikipedia: Pick n Pay
