On May 5th, 2025, one of Nigeria’s renowned fast food and casual dining brands, The Place Restaurant, launched its presence in Ibadan, Oyo State, with the opening of a new branch. This launch, powered by marketing agency Korlord Works, led a high-impact campaign, generating over 1,000 leads ahead of the opening and hundreds of 100 walk-ins on the launch day.

The launch event buzzed with energy, filled with music, fun giveaways, and exclusive tasting sessions featuring The Place’s signature dishes. Guests were greeted with top-notch customer service, and the atmosphere was designed to capture the lively spirit of the Ibadan community while showcasing the upscale yet welcoming vibe of The Place Restaurant.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, led by the top executives of The Place Restaurant along with key representatives from Korlod Works. Attendees were thrilled about this new addition to the city’s culinary landscape, with many praising the quality of the service, food, and overall ambiance. The event flowed seamlessly from afternoon into evening, with a steady stream of guests coming and going—a clear sign of strong local interest.

Speaking at the event, Chinelo Umeuegochukwu, Chief Operating Officer of The Place Restaurant, reaffirms that the new branch is set to maintain core values and standards of the restaurant, assuring customers in Ibadan to expect quality. In corroboration, Omolola Olaegbe, Head of R&D and Marketing, urges customers to try the dishes of the new expanded menu, stating that meals can be gotten for as low as 900 Naira.

The marketing campaign, developed and executed exclusively by Korlod Works, Nigeria’s strategic marketing, digital communications, and creative content development, focused on launch visibility, customer acquisition, and sustained public interest. The campaign utilised a mix of digital advertising, social media engagement, and customised video content to drive awareness and conversion. It also incorporated a promotional teaser trailer to build anticipation and create interest.

On the launch day, the turnout of individuals to the restaurant’s new Ibadan branch was more than anticipated. Images shared on social media indicated a massive showing of customers, some of whom indicated that they had been tracking the campaign throughout the last few weeks leading up to the launch.

“We designed this campaign to be promotional and beyond,” said Hilary Utuke, Chief Executive Officer of Korlord Works. “We were determined to generate real-time leads and get customers in the door. Our objective was measurable impact to deliver visible results in a competitive market, and we succeeded.”

Face-to-face customer interviews also revealed the success of the marketing efforts. Some of the customers confirmed that they had learnt about the new outlet through social media campaigns and promotional materials that had been created by Korlod Works.

“I saw the videos everywhere on Instagram and decided to come check it out,” said one customer. “The content was too inviting to ignore.”

Hilary Utuke reports that 1,500 leads were generated by utilising digital promotion methods such as pre-registration links, online sign-up forms and contest entries that influenced the restaurant’s opening day crowd.

According to Omolola, the campaign effectively raised awareness for The Place Restaurant. “We are pleased with the interest generated and the attendance on opening day. Korlod Works delivered exceptional marketing services.”

Korlod Works’ promotional videos were widely shared on social media and increased awareness about The Place Restaurant both locally and nationally, and this has led to experts hailing the launch as an illustration of effective location-focused marketing strategies. Nigerian brands are increasingly embracing digital-first approaches to reach and attract urban consumers during new product launches.

Marketing professionals have also commended the campaign as a model for performance marketing, saying the use of data, video and social media interaction contributed to the online traffic to the restaurant’s doorstep.

The agency has since fielded requests from other brands looking for a similar launch strategy. Although projects have not been confirmed yet, Korlod Works stated there is a desire to continue providing brands momentum through strategic data-led marketing.

Meanwhile, The Place Restaurant continues to reassure the Ibadan audience of the brand’s commitment to maintaining momentum in the coming weeks. The company explained that customer experience and continued community engagement will be of utmost importance while establishing itself in the Ibadan marketplace.

“We’re here to serve the people of Ibadan, and the response so far has been very positive,” Omolola said.

The new restaurant is poised to make a major impact on The Place’s presence in Southwest Nigeria. Ibadan is also one of the most populous cities in the country, making the acquisition a smart addition to the restaurant’s brand and presence.

Korlod Works’ involvement in the launch is being used as a best practice on how strategic partnerships can impact measurable results in consumer-led industries. Industry observers speculate that the campaign may establish a new benchmark for how hospitality brands consider regional expansions in Nigeria.