Betty’s Burgers’ founders will start rolling out their `retro’ Slim’s Quality Burgers business

The Queensland founders of fast-food juggernaut Betty’s Burgers will soon roll out their new “retro” Brisbane burger concept stores that come with a “drive-in” dining experience that harks back to the 1950s.

The founders of fast food chain Betty’s Burgers will roll out a new retro burger concept harking back to the 1950s and ’60s that includes a drive-in feature where customers can pull up, be served and eat in their parked cars.

Slim’s Quality Burgers director Nik Rollison said the concept was a more “retro version” of Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co which he and his partners opened for the first time in 2014 at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

While the $7bn-plus Australian burger market may seem crowded, he said “there’s still a lot of room for something different”.

“Our biggest point of difference from our competitors will be that it's a fresh-made product — fresh order, every order,” Mr Rollison said.

“We plan to compete in the McDonald’s/Hungry Jack’s space by way of price point and customer demographics, with affordable fresh-made products.”

Nik Rollison when he was with Betty's Burgers & Concrete Co.

Mr Rollison said there will be different store formats but most of Slim’s Quality Burger’s Queensland stores will have dine-in, take away, drive-through and they have also revived the old drive-in concept.

“Pull your car right up to the curb, scan your QR code, order from your car, pay from your car and one of our lovely staff will bring it right out to your car where you can eat in the comfort of your vehicle if you want and drive away when you are good and ready,” he said.

“We have not been able to find anyone else in Australia doing drive-in.”

Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co was founded by Mr Rollison, David Hales and Michael Tripp as a classic 1950s inspire Aussie burger shack which also offered shakes and frozen custard ice cream known as “concretes’’.

In 2017 it was sold to Shark Tank star Janine Allis’ Melbourne-based Retail Zoo company.

Like Betty’s Burgers they plan to rollout Slim’s Quality Burgers stores across the country.

In Queensland they plan to open an outlet next year at the $30m mixed-use Churchill Development Group project at 200 Kingston Rd, Slacks Creek and another at 672-678 Gympie Rd, Chermside.

They are also looking to open outlets in NSW this year at Westfield Sydney CBD, Westfield Mount Druitt and Marrickville.

Mr Rollison said they are looking at potential stores in Victoria and Tasmania.

“It’s safe to say we will open 10 units with the first 18 months,” he said.

“We are looking at everywhere and anywhere and as long as the customer base is ready for it and there is not a saturated market.”

Mr Rollison said Slim’s Quality Burgers will have different formats depending upon the location.

“We have a few formats in NSW and we will be in shopping centres where you obviously can’t have drive-in or drive-throughs,” he said,

“In Queensland however, it’s easier to find drive-in /drive-through space because the bigger blocks so most of our drive-in/drive-through formats will be in Queensland.”

An artist's impression of 200 Kingston Rd, Slacks Creek, where Slim’s Quality Burgers will have a store.

Slim’s Quality Burger will take a 145sq m space at the Churchill Development Group development.

Churchill Development Group managing director David Schuh said the partnership with Slim’s Quality Burgers was exciting.

“Slim’s represents something fresh and new for the area but also it brings a fresh twist to the

traditional fuel stop,” he said.

“Slim’s offers fast food but the emphasis is on quality, freshness. It won’t be the ‘run-of-the mill’ burger joint.

“And, the cream on top – apart from securing a long term rental – this tenant sells hand

scooped sundaes topped with fresh whipped cream.”