The staggering numbers behind region’s newest KFC in Highfields, north of Toowoomba

International fast food giant KFC has opened its newest restaurant in the Toowoomba region, with the location hoping to capture a share of thousands of motorists along a busy highway.

KFC opens in Highfields. KFC mascot, Colonel Sanders, with store manager Amber Harding-Dolan and area manager Trent Brigginshaw.

The newest KFC restaurant to open in the Toowoomba region will employ more than 70 young people at its peak and capture a share of about 14,000 vehicles passing by it every day, according to on of the developers.

The $4.5 million Highfields fast food drive-through restaurant launched along the New England Highway yesterday, with plenty of customers diving in to sample the internationally-known fried chicken.

Developer and co-owner Rob Weymouth, who created the project with fellow investor Scott DPI, said he expected the site to trade well considering the enormous market potential.

“We’re keeping the property as an investment, and it’s going to be a good long-term investment,” he said.

KFC mascot, Colonel Sanders, with store manager Amber Harding-Dolan and area manager Trent Brigginshaw.

“There are about 14,000 cars a day that go along the New England Highway (at Highfields) so it’s going to service a really wide area.

“All up it’s worth about $4.5 million, including the fit-out — it’s a decent investment into the Highfields community.”

Mr Weymouth said he and investors pushed hard for the restaurant to be based along the highway, adding the Toowoomba Regional Council wanted it to be based near the centre of Highfields.

“The council wanted it to go into the town centre, but it’s a 225 sqm metre store with two drive-through lanes,” he said.

“Without the passing traffic going out to Hampton and Crows Nest, you’d struggle (early on).

“6000 cars a day drive past Highfields and keep going, so if it was in the middle of Highfields, it would’ve made a massive difference to turnover.”

Reports from earlier this year suggested the store would be a 24/7 eatery, but Mr Weymouth said he didn’t believe that was ever the plan.

A significant majority of the workforce are under 30, with team leaders brought in from other stores by the franchisee Collins Foods.

KFC southwest Queensland area coach Trent Brigginshaw said he had been impressed by the quality of the applicants, particularly their work ethic.

“We employed 60 local 14 to 30 year olds (initially) and then we transferred 13 team members from other stores,” he said.

“When we did the recruitment, it was really good to see a good quantity and quality of applicants.

“They were eager, young kids that just wanted to get a job and earn their own money.

“It’s really important that at that young people can understand what working life is, develop that responsibility and understand customer service and how you should be treating customers.”