Darwin International Airport food: Vietnamese chain Roll’d confirms first foray into NT market

A homegrown fast-food giant with 100-plus stores nationally has confirmed its first foray into the NT market, with future stores not ruled out. Find out when they are expected to open.

Roll'd founder Bao Hoang. Picture: File

A homegrown fast-food giant with 100-plus stores nationally has confirmed its first foray into the NT market, with future stores not ruled out.

Roll’d, the Vietnamese chain founded in Melbourne in 2012 by Bao Hoang, school friend Ray Esquieres and cousin Tin Ly, has confirmed it is set to make its Territory debut, with a new outlet at Darwin International Airport targeting an operational date of December 12.

The outlet’s opening will mean Roll’d has a presence in every single state and territory aside from Tasmania.

Jarrod Montigue, the Australian head of operations for Roll’d, said the brand was currently going through a “massive growth phase, both with sales and profit”.

“Our stores are firing on all cylinders at the moment, we’ve really hit a niche in the market,” he said.

Roll'd Darwin International Airport is targeting an operational date of December 12, 2024. Picture: Katie Hall

Roll’d, with its offering of “beautiful quality, fresh Vietnamese”, was surfing the wave of Australia’s growing trend towards clean living.

“Everyone these days is about healthy choices,” Mr Montigue said.

Roll’d also had the benefit of first-mover advantage.

“From a QSR [industry lingo for quick-service restaurant] fast food perspective, there’s no real competitor in this space,” Mr Montigue said.

“We have upwards of 100 stores. I think our next largest competitor [Bami] has about 10.”

The new Darwin airport outlet will be operated by SSP Australia, one of the ‘big four’ which has cornered the airport food and beverage market in Australia.

Roll'd head of Australian operations Jarrod Montigue showing off the chain's new range of FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods). Picture: LinkedIn

SSP Australia already operates Roll’d outlets at the Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne international airports, and was also the company responsible for bringing Red Rooster to Darwin International Airport.

“We’re really lucky to have SSP be partnered up with us,” Mr Montigue said.

Mr Montigue is no stranger to the Darwin operating environment.

He has previously been involved with Hudsons Coffee and doomed booked retailer Angus & Robertson in the NT, and was also the man who brought Pie Face to the north, back when its future looked much brighter.

He said he believed Roll’d was a natural fit for the NT demography.

“Darwin’s very much a multicultural city with a huge Asian influence, so I think we’re going to strike a chord and have a loyal following up here,” Mr Montigue said.

He said Roll’d hadn’t ruled out the possibility of additional outlets in the Top End, with the Darwin Waterfront, Casuarina Square and Palmerston the most likely candidates.

Originally published as Darwin International Airport food: Vietnamese chain Roll’d confirms first foray into NT market