POPULAR Perth-based 24-hour restaurant/café chain Fast Eddys has launched an expansion program designed to establish up to 40 new all day/all night outlets nationwide over the next four years.
POPULAR Perth-based 24-hour restaurant/café chain Fast Eddys has launched an expansion program designed to establish up to 40 new all day/all night outlets nationwide over the next four years.
Since its foundation in Perth in 1978, Fast Eddys has grown from a single inner city late night venue to seven restaurant/cafes, including one each in Melbourne and Adelaide; two in the Perth metropolitan area - Morley (Galleria) and Cannington (Carousel) - and one each in Fremantle and Bunbury.
Fast Eddys Cafe Australia Pty Ltd’s marketing manager Philip Massey said laying down the blueprint for the nationwide expansion phase, which is set to more than quadruple its eateries, began in late 1996.
In that year the company’s management acquired the international rights of the Fast Eddys Cafe banner by purchasing the master franchise from former owners, the Somas brothers.
Two years later Fast Eddys Café Australia Developments was formed and the Bunbury restaurant/cafe opened.
The following year, 1999, saw the Morley and Carousel Fast Eddys restaurant/cafes come on stream.
Mr Massey said the first of the 40 new Fast Eddys restaurant-/cafes would be opened in Kalgoorlie later this year.
He said Rockingham was also being assessed as a likely venue for another outlet some time during this year.
The expansion drive includes establishing flagship restaurants-/cafes in other states.
Fast Eddys already has more than 300 full and part-time employees Australia-wide. When the new restaurant/cafes are fully opera-tional total staff numbers will exceed 2000.
“Currently all our restaurant-/cafes are company operated,” Mr Massey said.
“It’s anticipated that most of the planned new venues will be company owned.”
“Fast Eddys Cafe Australia Pty Ltd has planned the expansion program and will oversee it.”
He said the company, through its new development division, was also assessing the likelihood of broadening its activities into South-East Asia and the Pacific basin region.
Fast Eddys’ management was talking with a major financial institution to raise the necessary venture capital, he said.
A typical Fast Eddys Cafe venue includes separate areas for restaurant/cafe dining and Fast Eddys Morley, Carousel and Bunbury restaurant/cafes also have drive through service that caters for up to six cars simultaneously.
The three businesses under one roof approach adopted by Fast Eddys means each restaurant/cafe caters for a broad range of eating-out clients.
All Fast Eddys restaurant/cafes are licensed, offering BYO, and sell a range of beers and wines.
They offer 24-hour menus, so clients can order a breakfast at sun-up or sundown, or during the middle of the day, and a lunch at midday or midnight or else at sun-up or sundown.
This means the age-old slogan of “customer being king” is taken that seriously.
Fast Eddys restaurant/cafes are open 24 hours every day of the year, including Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Mr Massey said: “All our licensed restaurant sections are characterized by polished wood, interesting nooks and crannies, split levels and classic cast iron decor.
“We attempt to combine warmth and comfort of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
“Memorabilia, antiques and artifacts create an ambiance of interest and intrigue for visitors of all ages.”
