Burger chain Carl’s Jr to open 20 restaurants in Queensland

A POPULAR American hamburger chain is set to serve up some serious fast-food competition to McDonald’s, with a plan to open 20 new restaurants in Queensland.

Carl's Jr says it has the potential to open more than 300 restaurants in Australia over the next decade.

• Taco Bell to open at Annerley

A POPULAR American hamburger chain is set to serve up some serious fast-food competition to McDonald’s, with a plan to open 20 new restaurants in Queensland.

Carl’s Jr, which has more than 1300 stores worldwide including a food court outlet at Brisbane Airport, will roll out the first of its Queensland restaurants at Redbank Plains later this year.

It has also earmarked sites at West Ipswich, Eagleby, Slacks Creek and Pimpana as part of its plan to infiltrate the state.

It’s the second major US fast-food outlet to target Queensland recently, following the recent announcement that Taco Bell will open at Annerley later this year.

Carl’s Jr has started recruiting staff for its Redbank Plains restaurant. Picture: Claudia Baxter

The Queensland franchisee for Carl’s Jr, whose logo is a smiling star, is held by The Bansal Group which has an office in Slacks Creek.

The Bansal Group’s general manager Shawn Kerr told The Courier-Mail that their strategy had the potential for more than 300 Carl’s Jr stores to open within the next decade.

“The Bansal Group are set to open their first location at Redbank Plains later this year with a growth strategy that will see between 8 and 10 restaurants within 12 months,” he told The Courier-Mail.

The company’s plan appears to centre heavily around regional and tourist destinations as well the fringe suburbs of Brisbane.

“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,” he said.

“There are a number of key factors that we take into consideration when considering site selection. From site accessibility to other surrounding QSRs (Quick Service Restaurants) that can provide the community with a variety of dining out options.

“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.

Carl’s Jr has already opened stores at Bateau Bay on NSW’ Central Coast and at Mt Barker in South Australia, which is their most recent addition.

A Carl's Jr lettuce burger.

Mr 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 said.

“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.”

Carl’s Jr has started recruiting staff for its Redbank Plains restaurant, which includes 15 part-time and 85 casual staff, while it will begin its search for employees for its new West Ipswich store in November.

You can apply at [e-mail].