When Polland Food Centre opened in 2025, the aroma of freshly prepared meals quickly attracted customers. Behind the scenes, however, the restaurant was grappling with a costly challenge.
Traditional charcoal stoves were consuming large amounts of fuel, filling the kitchen with smoke and increasing operating expenses.
Like many growing restaurants, Polland Food Centre faced rising fuel costs, inefficient cooking equipment and difficult working conditions in the kitchen.
Despite offering a menu that includes both local and continental dishes, management struggled to balance customer demand with increasing energy expenses.
“We were spending between Shs40,000 and Shs50,000 every day on five to seven basins of charcoal,” said Muhuza John Bosco, the restaurant’s head chef.
The costs extended beyond fuel purchases. Traditional charcoal stoves lost heat quickly, forcing staff to add more fuel throughout the day.
Smoke filled the kitchen, affecting workers’ comfort and health, while excessive heat created safety concerns and increased the risk of accidents.
Faced with these challenges, Polland Food Centre partnered with Elsmart Conservation Technologies to install built-in Ecostoves designed for high-volume commercial kitchens.
The Ecostoves use high-density honeycomb briquettes that burn longer and produce less smoke than traditional charcoal. Their insulated design helps retain heat, reducing fuel consumption while maintaining steady cooking temperatures.
The results were immediate.
According to the restaurant, daily fuel expenditure fell from about Shs 50,000 to Shs 20,000, representing a 60 per cent reduction in energy costs.
For a business operating throughout the week, the savings created opportunities to reinvest in growth and improve profitability.
“Previously, we spent between Shs 40,000 and Shs 50,000 on charcoal every day. Now we spend only Shs20,000 on briquettes to prepare a variety of foods for the entire day,” Muhuza said.
“The stoves are cost-effective. We cook faster, and the insulation preserves heat, keeping food warm throughout the day without additional fuel. Since we started using them, we have not recorded a single accident.”
The benefits have gone beyond financial savings.
Reduced smoke has created a cleaner and healthier working environment for staff. Cooking times have shortened, while the insulated system keeps food warm during busy service periods without the need for constant reheating. The improvements have boosted efficiency and increased staff morale.
With lower operating costs and faster food production, Polland Food Centre says it is now serving more customers and generating additional revenue.
Management says the savings have allowed the business to invest more resources in menu development, staffing and customer service.
Encouraged by the results, the restaurant plans to acquire additional Ecostoves to increase kitchen capacity. Management is also preparing to open a second branch, which will be equipped with the same energy-efficient cooking technology.
Virginia Semakula, Equity Bank Uganda’s Manager for the Energy, Environment and Climate Change Pillar, said the adoption of clean cooking technologies is helping businesses and households reduce energy costs while improving productivity.
“The impact has been significant. Through our partnership with GIZ, we have expanded access to clean cooking systems and solar technologies across different communities,” Semakula said.
She said businesses have reduced dependence on charcoal, firewood and kerosene by adopting cleaner cooking solutions. Salons, retail shops, farms and households have also embraced solar-powered systems, enabling them to operate longer hours and lower their energy expenses.
For Polland Food Centre, the shift to energy-efficient cooking has been more than an environmental decision. It has become a business strategy that has reduced costs, improved workplace safety and strengthened the restaurant’s ability to grow.
At a time when fuel prices remain unpredictable and profit margins are under pressure, the restaurant’s experience demonstrates how investment in clean energy technologies can improve both business performance and sustainability.
