The Brisbane-based Motto Motto Japanese restaurant chain is to enter the Western Australian market with three franchised sites in Perth within the next 10 weeks.
The move kickstarts the Japanese restaurant group’s plan to open 10 locations in the state within four years.
Motto Motto COO Matt Fickling said “The scale and speed of the rollout reflect the confidence our franchise partners, landlords and management team have in the brand and in the long-term opportunity Western Australia represents.”
Two franchise partners will lead the WA expansion. Motto Motto will open at Currambine Central in mid-September, and at the redeveloped Galleria Shopping Centre and Midland Gate in November.
MS Group WA, an established franchisee and area developer for other beverage brands, will operate the Morley Galleria restaurant.
Soon Khoo, MS Group WA managing director, said “What particularly stood out to us was the performance of Motto Motto’s restaurants compared with equivalent Japanese brands, together with the strength and experience of the leadership team behind the business. Strong leadership is essential in such a competitive market.”
Further growth nationally
Motto Motto is adding to its footprint in Queensland and New South Wales too. It recently opened a site at Joyner Central in Queensland, and has openings planned for Harbour Town and Orion Springfield.
In New South Wales, the chain will launch in Newcastle with a restaurant at Green Hills, and open a restaurant in Penrith, Western Sydney.
Fickling said the business will be a 30-restaurant network by December, and forecasts annual retail sales of more than $60 million next year.
Motto Motto plans 10 further locations next year across the country, and is eyeing up Adelaide for its next interstate launch.
“Opening new restaurants is only one part of the story,” Fickling said. “Our comparable restaurants are serving more customers, while average transaction value has also grown as guests explore more of the menu.”
In the most recent quarter, comparable-store sales increased by more than 12 per cent, while comparable-store transactions grew by 8.2 per cent.
Motto Motto’s manufacturing brand, Kitchen Daddy, underpins the group’s retail and franchise growth.
“It generates millions of dollars in external sales through its growing portfolio of foodservice clients,” Fickling said.
