FULL LIST: The big food chains set to take over Queensland

Some of the world’s biggest food franchises are coming to Queensland. We reveal their plans and what eateries will be opening soon near you. SEE THE LIST

A smorgasbord of restaurant, takeaway and fast food chains is set to take over Queensland serving up everything from health bowls and burgers to juice and frozen yoghurt.

The mix of local and international players claims the weather, the lifestyle, the energy and the land availability make the Sunshine State the perfect place for expansion.

TikTok-famous frozen yoghurt brand Yo-Chi has launched six stores in Queensland in the past 18 months and is planning its seventh this month in Brisbane’s Paddington.

“Queensland has been one of our highest-growth states over the past 12 month,” said Yo-Chi COO Brooke Rodger, with sales at their Brisbane CBD store more than doubling in the past 12 months.

“Queensland weather is perfect for frozen yoghurt all year round, and we’re probably a more justifiable indulgence than ice cream so people will visit more often.”

Faith Dela Cruz at Yo-Chi in Westfield Garden City. Picture: Richard Walker

The brand is looking to open 10 more venues in Queensland in the next two years.

“Demand is strong and we’re currently exploring a lot of new locations. We’re always challenging ourselves with new ideas and flavours, all kinds of innovation in products and venue design to inspire people to come back,” said Ms Rodger.

Slim’s Quality Burger, from the team that founded Australia’s beloved Betty’s Burgers, is also planning its insurgence into the Queensland market.

The brand has just launched its first store in Kippa-Ring, north of Brisbane, and will open its second in Logan’s Slacks Creek in December or January, followed by three more outlets next year.

“Queensland is an excellent market in general but we especially see it as a fantastic market for drive-thru,” said co-founder Nik Rollinson.

A burger at Slim's Quality Burger, which is looking to expand across Queensland.

The Slim’s Queensland stores will not only offer regular drive-thru, but also an in-car delivery service where customers can pull up in a parking bay, order on their phone and have their meal delivered to their vehicle.

“It really works for families who have sleeping kids in the car and it just really adds that level of comfort and convenience,” Mr Rollinson said.

Also setting Slim’s apart from its rivals, Mr Rollinson said, would be the price, with burgers starting at just $5, as well as the product’s quality, with all meals made to order using freshly prepared ingredients, such as hand-cut fries, handmade hash browns and squeezed to order orange juice.

“Nothing is ever frozen – everything is fresh,” he said.

Fish Bowl is rolling out across Queensland.

Also standing out in the fresh game, is Sydney-born health food brand Fish Bowl, which has launched eight stores in Queensland in the past year selling its nutritious poke-style bowls, with two more venues to open in the next two months, and up to five planned for next year.

“We’ve been loving it (in Queensland),” co-founder Nic Pestalozzi said. “It’s a good market, people are very health conscious, it’s great weather and it seems to be resonating.”

BIG FOOD CHAINS SET TO TAKE OVER QLD

YO-CHI

Frozen yoghurt brand Yo-Chi has big plans to expand across Queensland.

From Oliver and Riley Allis, the sons of Boost Juice founder Janine Allis, Yo-Chi is Australia’s fastest-growing frozen yoghurt brand.

The company has two stores on the Gold Coast, two on the Sunshine Coast, and a further two in Brisbane with a third on the way, due to open in Paddington before the end of the month.

The Queensland stores, which offer soft-serve frozen yoghurt with optional mix-ins like chocolate, fruit and lollies, attract more than 30,000 customers a week.

The plan is for 10 more outlets to be rolled out in the next two years.

FISH BOWL

A healthy protein and veg bowl from Fish Bowl.

The Sydney-based healthy bowl business from founders Nic Pestalozzi, Nathan Dalah and Casper Ettelson has had a massive year expanding into Queensland, launching eight stores in 12 months from the Sunshine to the Gold Coast and everywhere in between.

The brand plans to launch two more stores in the state before the end of the year, with one in South Brisbane’s Fish Lane opening in three weeks, followed by a Woolloongabba outlet in the South City precinct in December.

Next year the group plans to open one or two more stores on both the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, as well as another Brisbane operation.

SLIM’S QUALITY BURGER

A burger at Slim's Quality Burger, which is looking to expand across Queensland.

From hospitality gurus Nik Rollinson, Michael Tripp and David Hales, comes this American diner-style burger franchise, promising freshly made-to-order meals at great value prices.

Slim’s has been in the Sydney market for the past two years, but has just started its expansion into Queensland, launching its first store in Kippa-Ring, just north of Brisbane, with its second store due to open in Slacks Creek in Logan, in December or January.

The plan is for the brand to launch three more stores in Queensland next year, as well as two in Victoria.

They are also looking for potential franchisees to take on future outlets.

HASHTAG BURGERS & WAFFLES

One of the burgers at Hashtag Burgers & Waffles.

Founded by Matt Rollo, this Brisbane-based burger franchise now has four stores in Fortitude Valley, Capalaba, Ashgrove and South Brisbane.

A fifth Brisbane store is in the works for early next year, before plans to take on the rest of the state and country.

“Our goals next year are to extend to Ipswich, Sunshine and Gold Coast with another five by December 2024 (and) from there hopefully all of Australia,” Mr Rollo said.

The business’s growth is spurred by a loyal following of customers who are devoted to the high-quality product, which was this year named in the top five burgers in Queensland in the delicious. 100 Best of the Best awards.

JAMBA

Juice and smoothie chain Jamba is coming to Queensland.

American juice juggernaut Jamba will be landing Down Under from mid this month, bringing its popular range of smoothies, juices, acai bowls and pastries.

With 870 stores across the US and Asia, its next big market will be Australia and Queensland will be a major target.

The brand’s second Aussie outlet will be on the Sunshine Coast at Sunshine Plaza, with five more to follow in Queensland, including Carindale in May.

“We see the Queensland culinary market as a great match,” said Danny Cheung, who will be bringing the brand to Australia, citing Jamba’s preservative-free, nutrition-focused approach as ideal for the Sunshine State lifestyle.

WENDY’S

A Wendy's burger. Picture: Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images

US fast food giant Wendy’s has set its sights on Australia with plans to roll out 200 stores across the country starting in 2025.

In the partnership with Flynn Restaurant Group, which took over 260 Pizza Hut restaurants in Australia in June, the burger behemoth will be looking to compete with the likes of McDonald’s and Hungry Jacks.

Their offering includes everything from burgers and skin-on fries to salads, baked potatoes, croissants and desserts.

The world’s third-largest burger chain currently has about 7000 stores across the US, Canada, Ireland and the UK.