Lord of the Fries is an Australian and New Zealand casual dining fast food chain, originally based in Melbourne, before expanding into other regions. It serves only vegan dishes including loaded fries, veggie burgers, hot dogs and a number of various sides and breakfast items. Lord of the Fries first started as a vegetarian "mobile chip van" in August 2004 which was driven across the country until late 2005 when the first store location was opened in Melbourne's city centre.[1] Due to the menu consisting entirely of plant-based products, all meals from the chain are Kosher and Halal. The restaurants became 100% vegan in 2018.[2] The founders are vegan as are most of the franchisees.
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Company type | Private |
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Industry | Casual dining restaurant - Fast food |
Founded | 2004Melbourne CBD, Victoria, Australia | as food truck, first store opened 2005 in
Headquarters | Prahran, Victoria, Australia |
Number of locations | 12 in Australia, 2 in New Zealand |
Area served | |
Key people |
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Products |
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Website | www |
In 2018, the company announced a partnership with U.S. producer Beyond Meat, with financial backing from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and the former CEO of McDonald's, making them the first Australian restaurant chain to offer their plant-based burger patties.[3]
In 2022, Lord of the Fries Property, which was a crucial leasing vehicle for franchisees, collapsed in 2022 with debts of $2 million.[4]
Expansion
editAfter opening the first permanent store in Melbourne, founders Mark and Amanda with Mark’s brother Sam Koronczyk have expanded the chain across Australia, with a restaurant in almost every state; one in Western Australia two in Queensland and South Australia, and ten in Victoria. The company also planned to further open seven new stores a year over a six-year period.[5] Lord of the Fries opened their first international store in Auckland, New Zealand in 2016.[6] The company has some minor brands stemming from their LOTF stores. Recently they have launched their side brand “Lord of the…” with plant based take home macaroni and cheese products.
Locations
editLord of the Fries has nine Victorian (Melbourne) stores, two South Australian stores and one store in Western Australia[7] and two New Zealand[8] locations.
References
edit- ^ "Our Story | Lord of the Fries". 22 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Does Lord of the Fries have any vegan options?". Lord of the Fries. 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Leonardo DiCaprio's 'Beyond Meat' vegan burger coming to Lord Of the Fries". The Brag. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Landlord repossesses fast food store as chain's woes deepen". News.com.au. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Waters, Cara (16 September 2019). "How vegan surge made Mark's business the Lord of the Fries". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Famous fries joint, Lord of the Fries, lands in Auckland". Business Franchise Australia. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Australian Locations". Lord of the Fries. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand Locations". Lord of the Fries. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
External links
edit- Australian Official website
- New Zealand Official website