By SIMON HENDERY
Two of Burger King New Zealand's owners are expanding their stake in the world's second-largest burger chain,by taking a bite out of the business across the Tasman.
Aucklanders Dennis Jones and Mark Backhaus, who together own a quarter of Burger King in New Zealand, have bought 55 of
the chain's Australian outlets.
The restaurants have been sold by US-based Burger King Corporation and the sale also includes an agreement to service Australia's 21 other Burger Kings, which are owned by about a dozen franchisees.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, does not affect Australia's largest Burger King franchisee, Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd, which operates 202 restaurants under the Hungry Jack's brand.
Jones, who was in Australia yesterday, said he was committed to working closely with Australia's other Burger King franchisees.
"My organisation is committed to excellence in operations and growth.
"We will actively pursue opportunities to increase the number of new Burger King restaurants in Australia and will work hard to attract and retain franchisees who want to grow with our brand."
Burger King's 60 New Zealand restaurants are run by TPF Restaurants, a company half-owned by oil company Shell, with Jones, Backhaus, Aucklander James Barger and Australian GraemePlum having equal shares in the other half.
Burger King New Zealand's general manager marketing, Glenn Corbett, said yesterday that final details of the structure of the organisation which would manage the Australian acquisition were yet to be completed.
However, Jones would be the largest shareholder, Backhaus would be involved, but Shell, Barger and Plum would not.
Corbett said other announcements would to be made over the next couple of weeks which would have "very positive implications for the New Zealand side of the operation".
A number of support functions of the enlarged transtasman business, such as marketing for both countries, would be led from the company's Auckland head office, Corbett said.
"Clearly that will bring significant benefits to the new combined operation for both this country and Australia [with the] synergies that will be possible."
This month, Hungry Jack's owner, Jack Cowin, flew to Burger King's Miami headquarters in a bid to settle a deal tobuy the company-owned restaurants himself.
Burger King Corporation is owned by UK food and drinks giant Diageo.
By SIMON HENDERY
Two of Burger King New Zealand's owners are expanding their stake in the world's second-largest burger chain,by taking a bite out of the business across the Tasman.
Aucklanders Dennis Jones and Mark Backhaus, who together own a quarter of Burger King in New Zealand, have bought 55 of
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