Wendy’s Opens Second Hamilton Store In Te Rapa

Media release
Tuesday 14 January 2014

Wendy’s Opens Second Hamilton Store In Te Rapa

Wendy’s invests $4 million and creates 30 new jobs at new Te Rapa restaurant

Wendy’s opened the doors to its second Hamilton restaurant in Te Rapa yesterday (Monday 13 January).

Hamiltonians have already taken to the chain’s old fashioned burgers, with Wendy’s first Hamilton store setting a new world record when it opened in Frankton six months ago.

The new restaurant on Te Rapa Road has cost Wendy’s more than $4 million and taken a total of 17 weeks to build, with Auckland companyDominion Construction putting the finishing touches on the fit out over the holiday period.

Wendy’s CEO Danielle Lendich says a total of 30 new crew have been employed as a result of the opening, with some of the Frankton crew moving to Te Rapa and new recruits taking their place at the Frankton outlet.

“The management team have all been employed since April last year and completed their initial training in Auckland with the majority then honing their skills at the Frankton store.

“Some have also helped with the opening of our new Christchurch restaurant, and a few have now been promoted to more senior positions with crew stepping up into management.”

Lendich says local support has been huge with the Frankton restaurant doing the most sales in its first week of any Wendy’s anywhere in the world and breaking the weekly record by 6.7 percent.

Busy staff made more than 20,000 burgers, and menu items unique to Wendy’s like its baked potatoes and chili were also top sellers says Lendich. Customers ate their way through more than 200kg of potatoes and 150kg of chili, with extra sacks of potatoes driven in on opening day to keep up with demand.

She says a dedicated Facebook page set up by Waikato supporters had been a big motivator, as had Wendy’s own Facebook page which had been “going nuts”.

“We’re proud of both Hamilton stores and the combined team we have in place,” says Lendich. “All up we’ve created 70 new jobs for the local community which I think anyone would acknolwedge is significant.”

With the roll-out of a fresh new look underway, the store boasts café style seating and group seating for larger dining parties, a Drive Thru, and a new two-sided grill system that enhances food safety and cooks meat faster. The store also carries Wendy’s new logo - the first change in 30 years - in its signage.

Lendich says Wendy’s relationship with the Waikato runs deep, with longtime suppliers including Tatua, Fonterra and Inghams. It also sources its Manuka smoked streaky bacon from award-winning Te Awamutu butcher Magill’s and even Wendy’s advertising coming courtesy of Hamilton agency King St.

ENDS

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