The new burger king: Betty’s Burgers quest to win over Aussies
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The new burger king: Betty’s Burgers quest to win over Aussies
I'm sure most of us here at the SDC can’t resist a good burger. The endless combo of meats and sauces sandwiched in artisanal buns is simply mouth-watering and has made Aussies fall in love with this classic meal.
Some of the popular burger chains include the 'big three' — McDonald’s, Hungry Jacks, and Grill'd — alongside smaller chains such as Carl's Jr, Burger Project, and Ribs & Burgers. Meanwhile, the chicken-based burger market is dominated by the likes of KFC, Oporto, Nando's and Red Rooster.
However, a new burger chain is rapidly rising in popularity: Betty's Burgers and Concrete Co.
A new chain is taking the burger industry by storm, Betty’s Burgers is rapidly increasing in popularity. Credit: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin
The burger chain has grown a cult-like following among fast-food junkies — announcements of Betty's arrival in a new suburb, town, or city are usually considered a news item.
Betty's success has seen the chain opening six new restaurants during the pandemic, catering to the booming amount of takeaway orders. Another five restaurants will be opening in the next four weeks.
The success of the burger chain has made it the major money-spinner for its parent company Retail Zoo, contributing more sales compared to the conglomerate's more widely-known brand Boost Juice.
Retail Zoo's corporate regulator said that Betty's boosted its 2021 sales by about 20 per cent, translating to a sales revenue of $83.2 million this year — which is more than half of the conglomerate’s total sales revenue.
The conglomerate invested $6.5 million in Betty's restaurants in 2021, more than any of its other food brands. It also invested $16 million on the Betty's network just the year before.
The company also said that their estimates show that the chain can keep opening 12 to 15 restaurants each year until it reaches about 150, which is thrice the number of restaurants they currently have.
Betty’s Burger has become a major money-spinner for its parent company Retail Zoo. Credit: AAP Image / Monique Harmer.
Betty's managing director Troy McDonagh said that the success of the chain is 'simple'.
“It’s a simple, fresh product,” the Melbourne-based restaurateur says.
“We’ve done that from day one. We had the beauty of opening our first in a pretty nostalgic, iconic location in Noosa, and we just try and carry that forward.”
“That doesn‘t matter whether we’re in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, or Forest Place in the CBD of Perth.”
Betty's first started its operations in Noosa Heads in 2014 after its founders — David Hales, Nik Rollison and Michael Tripp — spotted an opportunity in the local market for fresh, casual dining.
Coincidentally, the new restaurant shared the name of the iconic Betty’s Beach Burgers, a store previously run by late local Noosa legend Beatrice “Betty” Wallace.
Mr Hales however confirmed to the Sunshine Coast Daily that the restaurant's name was inspired by his own grandmother Betty and that the chain is not associated with its competitor.
Betty’s Burger coincidentally shared the name of the iconic Betty’s Beach Burgers, a store previously run by late local Noosa legend Beatrice “Betty” Wallace. Credit: news.com.au.
In its third year of operations, Melbourne-based Retail Zoo, run by Shark Tank star Janine Allis, acquired shares in the restaurant.
Most of Betty’s 39 current restaurants remain in Queensland, including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast. The restaurant also has outlets across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, and Newcastle.
Mr McDonagh said that he considers Betty's as a provider of the best guest experience in food retail.
“Our leaders are engaged, they know where we‘re going, they know we’re in a growth business, we’re a growth brand … they support that we’ve bought a product that is a simple, fresh product,” he says.
“We’ve never tried to be anything more than a simple fresh burger place. We’ve got out beautiful milk buns, the meat patties, the sauces that we make in the house ... the burger range has been at eight to 10 and hasn’t really expanded beyond that.”
However, Betty's cannot veer away from competition, especially since its original founders — including Nik Rollison — are set to start a new retro drive-in burger joint called Slim's Quality Burgers, which they are planning to roll out across the country.
Currently, McDonagh said that they are focusing on keeping Betty's success running.
He also announced that they will be adding a new lobster burger on their menu this month.
“What I’ve found is there’s this almost transformation that happens when you go into a Betty’s,” he says.
“People have experienced Surfers Paradise, they’ve been to Noosa, they’ve done it at Manly … It’s almost a holiday transformation, and at each of these time-outs you‘re having a classic burger. You’re having a chocolate shake.
“You’ve got that 20 minutes where you could be anywhere in the world.”
Do you know any local burger restaurants that you think serves the best burger? Share it with us in the comments below so other members of the SDC could try their food too!
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