KFC opens app-driven store in Mount Gambier
A South Australia-first high-tech KFC that swaps the queue for a smartphone app has opened, and it’s just the second of its kind on Earth.
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The state’s first tech-powered, drive-through-only KFC opened in Mount Gambier today and it is only the second of its kind in the world.
The company opened its first “Drive Thru Only” store in Newcastle, NSW, late last year, which allows customers to order and pay for a KFC meal with the KFC App or on the KFC website before arriving at the restaurant. Once completing the order and arriving at the store, customers enter a unique four-digit code on a touchscreen receiver, transmitting their order to the kitchen where it is prepared by staff members, ready for pick up at the window.
With pre-ordering and prepaying allowing customers to effectively skip the queue, orders can be served up quickly.
The Mt Gambier store features two lanes with traditional drive through order options, alongside two online pick-up lanes. For those without a vehicle, the restaurant also features a walk-up kiosk, which operates from 10am to 5.30pm daily, ensuring everyone can use the new facilities.
The new Mt Gambier Drive Thru Only KFC restaurant is owned and operated by long-time KFC franchisee partners David and Marie Bird, who have 28 years of experience with the restaurant chain.
The couple have run another KFC in Mt Gambier for 20 years.
“We were always going to build a second store in Mount Gambier, and when KFC approached us with the new concept, we thought it was a pretty exciting idea,” Mr Bird said.
Mr Bird said the concept is gathering international attention.
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“We’ve got visitors coming over from the US to have a lot at the store,” he said.
“Since it’s the second one in the world, there’s a lot of interest, particularly from other franchisees. With this concept, you don’t need as big a block of land, because you don’t have a full restaurant with 100 seats.”
The new restaurant has created about 50 new jobs in Mount Gambier and it is located at 182-248 Penola Road, Mt Gambier.