Model and athlete couple that started a takeaway craze bring potatoes to Sydney

An A-lister couple have made their love of potatoes into a lucrative reality, with a multimillion-dollar business set to hit the streets of Sydney. Find out where here.

A model and former professional basketballer have made a multimillion-dollar business out of their love of potatoes — and now they are bringing it to Sydney.

Couple Jess Davis and Tyson Hoffmann are the founders of fast-food chain, Mr Potato which sees patrons load their sweet or baked potato with a range of toppings.

Since 2018, the couple have run three restaurants in Adelaide and sold their franchise into the Gold Coast.

They’ve also taken a lease out on a shop on King St in Marrickville and will look to open in their first Sydney outpost in the next two months.

“In Sydney is where all the big players are. We are now working with businessman and Investor Jack Delosa, who took Zambrero from two stores to 150, so to learn from him is amazing,” Davis said.

Jess Davis and Tyson Hoffmann at the soon to be open Newtown site of their food chain Mr Potato. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Adelaide is my home town but I’ve lived in Sydney for five years and we were always going to bring it here,” she said.

The burgeoning success of Mr Potato, which last year turned over $6m and counting, is remarkable considering former model Davis didn’t eat carbs for 10 years.

The loaded potatoes at Mr Potato. Picture: Instagram

Mr Potato will open in Sydney. Picture: Instagram

Modelling for the likes of Georgio Armani and Chanel, Davis said she was on the “no-carb train”.

It wasn’t until her first week of dating Hoffmann, who played professionally for the Adelaide 36ers, that she saw the power of potatoes.

“He was cooking sweet potato everyday and said, ‘I wish someone did this as a takeaway option’. I knew it was a great idea,” Davis said.

“There is a gap in the market and want something that is healthy and affordable. Basically by the end of that day I’d sent Tyson a logo for Mr Potato.

Jess Davis and Tyson Hoffmann at their Glenelg, Adelaide Mr Potato store. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“I didn’t even really eat carbs right up until we opened our first store. But when I did, I started feeling more energy and my body looks better than it ever has.

“There is a negative stigma placed on potatoes but they are so good for you. They have more potassium as banana.”

Hoffman adds that with no hospitality background and starting a business just weeks into their relationship, they were discouraged a lot.

“In the first year people kept telling us it wasn’t going to work, the business or the relationship.”

Now the two are engaged and have over 150 applications for franchise, with interest from America.

“We work well because I’m logical and she’s creative,” Hoffmann said.

“We have a strong vision for Mr Potato, so if there is ever any disagreements, we get over it quickly.”

Originally published as Model and athlete couple that started a takeaway craze bring potatoes to Sydney