Is there a trend for big name restaurants to delve into the QSR industry?
As the dining options available to Australian consumers continue to expand both in terms of food variety and service models, is Hogs Breath the first of many in the trend of big name dine-in restaurants jumping across to the quick service model?
After the successful launch of the very first Hog’s Express in Brisbane’s Myer centre late last year, the second of its kind is opening at Mandurah Forum, WA. The new fast food-esque version of the classic Australian brand is set to roll out across the country throughout the year.
Hog’s Express allows customers to get their favorite menu items but without the wait time. The Mandurah Forum location also offers a wealth of entertainment with a multimedia suite to watch the game, a PlayStation and playground for the kids. Along with the offer of ‘Kids Eat Free’ it’s hard to see why customers would go back to the more traditional table-service locations.
CEO Ross Worth speaks of the change saying “We know that consumers are increasingly busy and looking for quick, accessible and inexpensive food options, so we’re excited about the future of this model…”
Worth also notes the versatility of the new model, suggesting that it will allow the Hog’s bran04d to reach consumers in locations that were not realistic before, continuing to say they may “pop up anywhere from shopping centre and petrol stations, to airports and cinemas.’
Looking at this trend on a larger scale, the Australian restaurant industry is moving towards this new concept. Dubbed ‘fast casual’, the model allows restaurants to offer their same high quality food to consumers but in a faster no-wait service environment.