BK’s Takeaway is all about unpretentious food, delivered fast, in a friendly setting. All BK’s stores trade in classic Aussie takeaway favourites; from the crunchy delights of a meat and veg chiko roll to a flavour-packed burger.

Yet the flexibility of the business model means it can adapt to suit a particular location. While road-trip visitors in Victoria have always found a welcome in a BK’s Takeaways, it is workers at the industrial estate where the cafe is based who are the mainstay of the Warragul business.

BK’s Takeaway boss Brendan Kingwill could see the site’s potential from the beginning.

“We bought that store in 2018. It was a tired takeaway operation in a good location so we renovated and rebranded. The store is based in an industrial area and we chose it specifically for the local clientele who are on limited breaks. They need to dash in, choose their meal and go.”

Convenience on the menu

BK’s range of ready-to-go foods perfectly suits that customer demographic.

“We see the same people all the time and we have a very large ready to go selection of regular meals but I like to run specials too, and I use these to try a different burger or chicken item to add new flavours to the menu.”

Specials are on the menu for a month; if they prove popular they join the regular line-up.

The food offer and updated fit-out delivered swift results for the Warragul store.

“We had an increase in trade immediately after the store was revamped. Since then we’ve kept our customers and seen reasonable growth, even during Covid.”

New revenue opportunities

There’s now an additional evening opportunity for the Warragul store thanks to a newly-built retail centre just 1km away.

“We are the only place along this road that can do fish and chips for those shopping centre customers on their way home, and we are perfectly placed to tap into this new market,” says Brendan.

He has implemented several additional revenue streams at the Warragul store including a weekly school lunch delivery (pre-ordered $5 meals) and occasional event catering.

“We customise our finger food catering to suit the client’s needs; some people want cold dishes and cheese platters, others want typical hot food – party pies, mini sausage rolls, popcorn chicken.”

The most significant revenue stream is a mobile van. It’s an idea inherited from the previous owners who operated a mobile service for businesses in the local area.

“I was a bit hesitant at first then I saw the figures coming through, and saw it was worth developing,” says Brendan.

Mobile service

A vehicle upgrade brought in more customers, and the van now operates a breakfast, morning tea, and lunch run.

“This van brings in more revenue than some of the other cafes in the area,” he says.

All the goods are prepared in-store, and the van operator can replenish the stock between runs to replace sold-out items.

“Because of the system we have almost no waste, so our costs are low,” Brendan says.

Staffing costs are minimal too, with a maximum of two team members needed at peak hours in the shop, which is mostly a one-person operation.

“That’s the key to the model and its success,” says Brendan. “All staff are trained across all elements of the business so they cook and manage the day-to-day admin.”

Franchise support

As the franchisor, BK’s helps with bigger admin issues such as payroll, rostering and BAS.

There’s assistance too with marketing.

“We support many of our local sports clubs, charities, and local organisations. It is the best form of local area marketing that supplements our brand advertising on TV.

“Sponsorships, word of mouth and social media platforms all contribute to building a local store’s reputation,” Brendan says.

The Warragul store is company-owned and ripe for a keen franchisee to buy and build up further.

“It’s got great hours, operating five and a half days, so there’s great work-life balance as with all our stores,” Brendan says.

Regional lifestyle with BK’s Takeaway

“The beauty of our shops is they are easy to open up each day and easy to run. Once you close and spend half an hour cleaning, you’re done for the day,” he says.

The support available, operating hours and multiple revenue streams make BK’s Takeaway an appealing business option for families.

“Warragul is a reasonably big town, just an hour from Melbourne, with schools, sports clubs, a hospital and medical facilities. Families here benefit from regional living but with easy access to Melbourne.

“Forming relationships is vital in a regional area and we like to get to know our customers’ names and their favourite meals. Then it becomes a personal experience.

“Our takeaways all have consistent sales and we rely on return trade. That means creating a great customer experience,” he says.

“What we ask of franchisees is that they present well, have a strong work ethic and a great personality. That’s what we want at BK’s Takeaway.”