Toowoomba successful fast food business Super Rooster owner Kris Klarich celebrates 40th anniversary, confirms plans for fourth store

More than 1450 lucky chooks have won a golden ticket to celebrate four decades of one of Toowoomba’s most treasured and homegrown eateries. With 50 prize packs still on offer, here’s how you can win.

Many Toowoomba families have fond memories of sitting around the kitchen table, eating chicken and chips from Super Rooster.

While the brand has become synonymous with the Garden City, it has also been a significant part of Kris Klarich’s entire life.

It all started in 1983 when his parents Ray and Elena Klarich opened the very first Super Rooster store at Southtown, across the road from Centenary Heights State High School.

The couple who both immigrated to Australia, met while working in the fast food industry and decided to take the brave step of opening up their own chicken shop in Toowoomba.

Super Rooster started life 34 years ago in the Southtown Shopping Centre.

“My parents were both immigrants and struggled financially growing up, but it was this hardship that gave them the drive to open the business and create something that would mean future generations would never have those same worries,” Mr Klarich said.

“They took a big risk and I remember as a kid my parents working every day, having no idea at the time how successful Super Rooster would become.”

Starting out as a humble family-run business, Mr Klarich’s nonna would work in the kitchen with his dad, while his mum served customers as a cashier.

Joining the business himself at the age of 14, Mr Klarich began working as a kitchen hand before taking over the company when his parents retired in 2020.

Kris Klarich of Super Rooster as the Toowoomba fast food company celebrate 40 years in business. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Over the years, the small store has grown into a local business success story, with the venture relocating to a larger site on the corner of Ruthven and Alderley streets, and opening two new stories in Wilsonton and North Toowoomba.

The business now employs about 100 staff members and celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.

Over the past four decades the business, like many others across the country, has faced Covid-19 and supply chain issues, but Mr Klarich said the special moments outweigh the challenges.

“It was amazing to be awarded ‘Best Chips in Queensland’ by an independent body in 2021, but I never tire of hearing people telling me their stories of coming back to Toowoomba and Super Rooster being the first place they go,” he said.

“We have loved growing with our customers and hearing stories from people that have been coming to us since the beginning.

“It has also been great to have employed so many people over the past 40 years – we used to employ the parents of some of our current staff members, which speaks volumes to us.”

Super Rooster customers could win a lucky golden ticket during November as the Toowoomba fast food company celebrate 40 years in business. Picture: Kevin Farmer

When it comes to the brand’s success, Mr Klarich said its commitment to product, cleanliness and service were the secrets, but it could not have been achieved without the work ethic of his parents and support of the Toowoomba community.

Although the brand has grown the legs to expand beyond the Garden City, the business owner said his priority was keeping the brand local and not compromising on high standards.

But the business owner does plan to add a fourth store to the mix one day.

“Watch this space because we really want to open another store soon,” he said.

“We are so grateful to be part of a community that supports and champions local businesses.”

To celebrate the 40th anniversary, the business gave customers the opportunity to win merchandise with 1500 golden tickets hidden in meals and distributed over Facebook trivia games.

Members of the public wishing to score prize packs or merchandise with the retro 80s logo, will have 50 more chances to win before the offer ends on December 1.