Fast food giant Carl’s Jr could have more than 300 stores across Australia. That’s the ambitious plan for this US favourite, which has more than 1300 outlets worldwide, and is now stepping up its expansion here.
The first major roll out will be 20 stores in Queensland – the first outlet set to open at Redbank Plains before the end of 2017.
Independent retailer, The Bansal Group, which owns and operates several IGA outlets, has the rights to develop the Carl’s Jr chain throughout Australia.
There’s already a Carl’s Jr outlet in Brisbane Airport’s food court but it’s just the beginning for the brand, suggests The Bansal Group’s general manager Shawn Kerr.
He told The Courier-Mail there is the potential to open at least 300 Carl’s Jr restaurants by 2028.
And first up will be up to 10 outlets opening within 12 months, with regional and tourist locations typical target areas.
“The Bansal Group are committed to open sites within greater Brisbane and coastal location, as well as further afield into other major regional locations, such as Toowoomba and Townsville initially,” Kerr said.
Sites at West Ipswich, Eagleby, Slacks Creek and Pimpana have been pinpointed as part of the expansion plan.
“In addition to the Brisbane CBD area, the Bansal Group is also looking at opportunities to grow in South Bank (on Grey St) and into the Surfers Paradise precinct at Cavill Ave.”
Queensland is not the only state on their expansion hit list.
NSW Central Coast town Bateau Bay was the first to have a Carl’s Jr store, it opened in 2016; Mt Barker in South Australia is the most recent location.
Kerr said the Bateau Bay franchise, which in 2016 became the first Carl’s Jr restaurant to open in Australia, had record-setting results and they planned to build another 10 restaurants on the Central Coast.
“Mt Barker is our third location and our franchisee has plans to build the brand meaningfully in South Australia and the Northern Territory,” he told The CourierMail.
“The Bansal Group will be rolling out through Queensland beginning later this year with a 20-restaurant commitment. In 2018 we will open in Victoria, where we have a 35-restaurant development agreement.
“We see potential for more than 300 restaurants over the next decade.”